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CQF)fRICHT DEPOSCR 




HON. EDWARD WIGG-IN 



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History of Aroostook 

Volume I 

Comprising Facts, Names and Dates 

relating to the early settlement of 

all the different Towns and 

Plantations of the 

County. 






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Compiled and Written by 
Hon. Edward Wiggin 



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Copyright 1922 

By 

GEORGE H. COLLINS 



THE STAR-HERALD PRESS, 
Presque Isle, Maine 



MAR -3 1922 
0)CU654820 



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1 



INTRODUCTION 



So far as the writer knows the only complete compilation 
of facts covering the early settlement of Aroostook was one 
made by the late Hon. Edward Wiggin, about thirty years ago. 
In preparation for this record Mr. Wiggin visited every town in 
the County, and secured the facts comprised in his narrative 
largely from the pioneer settlers of each town, whose recollec- 
tions were then fresh regarding their experience and the facts 
concerning the early settlement of their town. 

This record of Mr. Wiggin, now in the custody of the 
Presque Isle Public Library, is in part in manuscript written in 
pencil, and in part consists of newspaper clippings of articles 
published at the time they were written. The whole series 
forms a voluminous and very important contribution to the early 
history of the County, but in its present shape is almost value- 
less to the public, either for reference or for general reading. 

On account of the expense involved, no attempt has here- 
tofore been made to get these notes into type, and to bind them 
in book form, for better preservation and for the purpose of 
more convenient reading and reference. 

It is the opinion of the writer that this should be done, and 
accordingly he has undertaken the work, and has taken the 
chance of incurring the very considerable expenditure of labor 
and money it will require, believing that a sufficient number of 
the printed volumes can be sold to cover the outlay involved. 

The published work is herewith presented to the people of 
Aroostook, and we believe that all who are interested in the his- 
tory, growth and development of our great county will find this 
work of value and interest. 

The writer of this introductory notice plans to follow this 
with a supplementary volume, covering the different stages of 
development, the record of which since the date of this early 
history written by Mr. Wiggin, has been so marvelouj a story 
of growth and prosperity. 

Without the patient and studious rcGcarch which has gone 
into this admirable work of^r, Wiggin, the supplement to fol- 
low this, though more of a story or series of pictures, may be 
expected to contribute further and we hope fittingly and worth- 
ily, to the record of Aroostook's wonderful progress. 

GEORGE H. COLLT^TS. 



CONTENTS 



Pages 

AMITY - - ....- 40—47 

ASHLAND ™ — 66—74 

BANCROFT „... -...- — 237—242 

BENEDICTA .™. ..._ 211—214 

BLAINE ~ - , - 219—223 

BRIDGEWATER _ _ ^ _ 110—117 

CARIBOU _ ™ „ 117—126 

GARY ;. ,...- _ ~ - ..-.- „. 2(?i;— 275 

CASTLE HILL _ 298—306 

CRYSTAL , „ 263—265 

DYER BROOK ....„ - - 202—205 

EASTON „ _ „ -.. 243—249 

FORT FAIRFIELD „ 79—91 

FORT KENT _.._ - _ 167—180 

GLENWOOD 236—237 

HAYNESVILLE ...._ 74—79 

HERSEY _ „.. 215—218 

HODGDON _ - - 16—31 

HOULTON 7—16 

ISLAND FALLS ...- 206—211 

LETTER B ~....^ 275—279 

LIMESTONE 197—202 

LINNEUS , - 48—56 

LITTLETON , _....- 163—167 

LUDLOW 143—148 

MACWAHOC -....- 260—263 

MAPLETON 249—256 

MARi?, HILL 148—154 

MASARDIS - - - 154—161 

MERRILL , 279—281 

MOLUNKUS 2 1 1—214 

MONTICELLO 161—163 

MORO -.. 256—260 

NEW LIMERICK 56—62 

NEW SWEDEN - 224—229 

OAKFIELD - 281—291 

0R:ENT 107—110 

OXBOW 229—235 

PRSSQUE ISLE - 91—107 

REED 265—268 

SHERMAN - 131—137 

SILVER RIDGE ^ - 215 

SMYRNA - ~ 62—66 

THE UPPER ST. JOHN COUNTRY - ISO— 197 

WASHBURN 127—131 

WESTFIELD „ _ 291-2^8 

WEi3,T O N ™ - -.. 31—40 

WOODLAND 137—143 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 



Mr. Wiggin's record of the early history of Houlton is as 
follows : 

HOULTON 



The oldest town in the County, distinguished as having been 
for years the extreme northeastern outpost of the United States. 

In the years immediately following the Revolutionary War, 
the people of New England began to pay much attention to the 
matter of the establishing of schools and institutions of learn- 
ing, and in this respect Massachusetts took the lead. 

The people of New Salem, a pioneer settlement well toward 
the Connecticut River, sought aid from the State in establishing 
an academy in their town, and the Legislature of Massachusetts 
in Jure 23, 1799 passed a resolve granting them ore half of a 
township six miles square, to be laid out and assigned by a 
committee for the sale of the eastern lands in some of the un- 
appropriated lands in the District of Maine belonging to this 
Commonwealth, excepting all lands within six miles of the 
Penobscot River. 

On the 19th of June an additional resolve was passed au- 
thorizing agents appointed by the legislature to convey the lands. 
The half tov.nsh'p was surveyed in 18C1 by Park Holland, 
Esq., and on Feb. 21, 1805, was conveyed by John Bead and 
Peleg Coffin, as agents named in the resolve, to the trustees of 
New Salem Academy. This tract is the southern half of the 
present flourishing town of Houlton. 

Previous to the survey, and soon after the passage of the 
original resolution in 1799, a company of thirteen men of the 
town of New Salem, purchased the land of the trustees of the 
academy, and commenced to take measures to have it lotted and 
opened for settlement. The deed to these thirteen proprietors 
was not, however, made until June 1st, 1810. On June 1st, 1810 
the proprietors voted that Joseph Houlton be agent to survey 
the half township, and he was directed to lay it out in square 
lots of 160 acres each, and to divide it by lots and half lots into 



8 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

20 equal shares according to the quality of the land, at his dis- 
cretion, reserving two lots for public uses. 

Mr. Houlton attended to this work, taking Mr. Holland 
with him as surveyor, and on November 8, 1801, the proprietors 
voted to accept the division and draw for their respective shares 
two lots and three half lots to each share. The other seven of 
the original proprietors owned two shares each, and the remain- 
ing six one share each, and the drawing was made accordingly. 
At the same meeting three of the number sold their shares to 
the others, reducing the number to ten. The men to whom fell 
the task of opening the grant to settlement, and who may be 
called the founders of the town of Houlton, were: Aaron Put- 
nam, Varney Pearce, Joseph Houlton, John Putnam, Joshua Put- 
nam, Rufus Cowles, John Chamberlain, Wm. Bowman, Consider 
Hastings and Thomas Powers. All these were citizens of New 
Salem except Rufus Cowles, a physician of Amherst, Wm. Bow- 
man of Hadley, and Thomas Powers of Greenwich. 

Of these ten only three became actual settlers of the grant, 
namely: Joseph Houlton, who may be termed the father of 
Houlton, and for whom the town was afterwards named; Aaron 
Putnam and Joseph Putnam. The other seven sold their lots to 
settlers at different times, some of them holding their proprie- 
torship as late as 1826. 

The act of the legislature passed June 19, 1801 required that 
six families should be settled on the land within five years, or 
the grant should be void. But at the same time that the con- 
veyance of the half township by the State agents to the trustees 
of the Academy was made, on Feb. 21, 1805, no settler had as 
yet entered upon his lot. Only one year more remained, and 
the outlook was not promising. 

The region in which the settlers were asked to make their 
homes was most remote; no settlement had as yet been made 
m the then District of Maine except the Acadian settlement in 
the Madawaska District. To add to the troubles they were to 
locate upon disputed territory, the settlement of which might 
leave them under the British flag. Nevertheless, six families 
made known their intention of emigrating. They were the fam- 
ilies of Mrs. Lydia Trask Putnam, whose father was a soldier 
under Wolfe, and whose eldest son fell in the movement follow- 
ing the battle of Lexington; Joseph Houlton, a grandson of a 
Revolutionary soldier; Varney Pearce, John and Joshua Putnam, 
also of Revolutionary lineage, and Dr. Samuel Rice. 

The first to make actual settlement upon the new town was 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 9 

Aaron Putnam, son of Lydia Trask Putnam, who came with his 
mother and family in the summer of 1805. The others followed 
in due time, though not all within the five years allowed in the 
grant. Mr, Putnam and his family embarked at Boston and 
sailed to St. John, N. B., thence up the river to Fredericton. 
Here they took a boat and worked their way with much difficul- 
ty to Woodstock, where the weaker ones of the party remained, 
and the men went on through the woods and began felling trees 
and taking possession of the new lots. Mr. Aaron Putnam ap- 
pears, however, to have remained at Woodstock as storekeeper 
until 1809, when he joined the colony at Houlton. Mr. Joseph 
Houlton and family came in the spring of 1807. Mr. Houlton 
was the acknowledged leader of the pioneer band, and was a 
man of much energy and ability, being a man of property and 
influence in Massachusetts. 

In the years of hardship and privation which followed in 
the new township Mr. Houlton proved a tower of strength to 
the settlers, and his ever ready counsel and assistance were of 
much value. He lived to see the colony placed on a firm found- 
ation, and the settlement he had helped to plant in the wilder- 
ness, incorporated into a town in the good State of Maine. On 
a beautiful Sabbath, August 12, 1832, as he sat in his chair by 
the window, watching the soldiers of the garrison march by, he 
peacefully passed away, at the age of seventy-six. He was ac- 
corded a military funeral by Major Clark, who commanded the 
troops, and an officer's salute was fired over his grave. 

In 1809 came John Putnam, and in the same year Aaron 
Putnam returned, and the next year built the first mill dam upon 
the stream. This dam was washed away and rebuilt a number of 
times before a permanent dam was secured. Dr. R'ce and ^amUy 
came in 1811, and Mr. Wormwood and family came in 1812. In 
1814 came Deacon Samuel Kendall and family, and with them 
Deacon Townsend. Nearly all these families had grown-up 
sons and daughters, and these inter-married and started new 
homes. 

In 1808 Joseph Houlton was appointed register of deeds 
for the Northern District of Washington County by Gov. Sulli- 
van of Massachusetts. This office he held until August 8, 1832, 
only four days before his death, when he was succeeded by 
Timothy Frisbie. 

In June 1839 the new County of Aroostook was formed, 
and the first Aroostook deed was recorded June 18th of that 
year. After the War of 1812 new settlers began to come in, and 



10 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

quite an immigration from the Province commenced. Mr. Wm. 
Williams and family were the first comers from the Province, 
and their descendants are now among the principal citizens of 
the County. 

Up to this time the settlers were all living in log houses, 
and the first frame building in the town was the dwelling of 
Dr. Rice, built in 1813, which was years afterwards the residence 
of Chas. P. Tenney, until it was destroyed by fire in 1879. The 
next frame house was erected by Aaron Putnam, and is today 
(1890) in a modernized form occupied by Capt. B. H. Putnam 
as a residence. 

The first clergyman who came to the place was Rev. Ed- 
ward Eastman of Limerick, who organized the first Congrega- 
tional Church Oct. 13, 1811. No meeting house was built in 
Houlton until 1837, though religious services were held in the 
houses of the citizens. In 1837 the Unitarian Society, composed 
of some 25 members who had withdrawn from the Congrega- 
tional Church, erected a meeting house, which is still standing, 
though much damaged by the fire of 1888, and abandoned as a 
church edifice. In 1838 the Congregational meeting house was 
built. Rev. Chas. C. Beaman being its first pastor , and also 
chaplain of the garrison. 

The years of 1816 and 1817 were hard years, the tradition- 
ally cold years, with heavy and continued frosts every month in 
the year. In those hard years those who had means shared 
with those who had not, and by the aid of an abundant supply 
of fish in the streams, and flour obtained from Fredericton at 
great expense, the people somehow got through without starving. 

During these years Mr. Houlton built his large mansion, 
which, remodelled in many respects, is still standing. In 1817 
Col. Turner of Vermont, and Mr. Johnson of Massachusetts, 
commissioners on the part of the United States, and Sir Arch- 
ibald Campbell and Mr. Bouchette, on the part of Great Britain, 
came, with a party of 60 men and workmen, to establish a 
boundary line. This party made its headquarters at Houlton 
for a time, and on the Fourth of July, what was long known as 
the Line Men's Ball, given by the commissioners and engineers, 
took place at Mr. Houlton's new house. This was the grandest 
affair of the settlement up to this time. Army officers on the 
survey were present in full uniforms, and the citizens, of both 
sexes were attired in their best. A sumptuous dinner was served 
and the festivities were kept up during the day, and when even- 
ing came on the house was brilliantly lighted, though at that 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 11 

time unfinished within, and containing only one immense room 
on the ground floor. Sir Archibald Campbell led the dance, 
and chose for his partner Miss Christina Wormwood, the 
youngest female present, she being then about fourteen. The 
surveying party did not remain very long after this event. The 
location of the boundary was a matter in dispute between the" 
two nations, and no further attempts were made to locate the 
line until after the Webster — Ashburton Treaty of 1842. 

In 1818 a petition was sent to the Massachusetts legislature 
for the incorporation of the half township, together with the ad- 
joining half township granted to Groton Academy, which latter 
now constitutes the town of Hodgdon, into a town to be called 
Houlton. This petition shared the fate of a similar one sent in 
1809, and the settlement remained unorganized. 

Some time previous to this Mr. Houlton had built a grist 
mill and saw mill on the Cook Brook; Aaron Putnam, a saw 
and grist mill near the bridge, and Ebenezer Warner, who came 
in 1810, a saw mill on Houlton Falls. 

In 1820 these pioneer settlers found themselves under the 
jurisdiction of the State of Maine, but still without local organ- 
ization. Soon after that year came the children of Varney 
Pearce, one of the original proprietors, who did not settle on the 
grant, and had recently died at New Salem. The descendants 
of this family are numerous, and are among the foremost busi- 
ness men of the town. 

In 1822 Mr. Wm. H. Gary of New Salem removed his fam- 
ily to the new settlement, and immediately commenced the erec- 
tion of a spacious residence, which is still standing on the hill 
above the station. Mr. Houlton was keeping tavern at the time, 
and with him Mr. Cary and family boarded until their house 
was finished. 

Shepard Cary, the second son, afterwards became the most 
prominent business man of Houlton, and probably no man ever 
came to Aroostook who did so much to further its business in- 
terests, or to help the laboring men of the County. Mr. Cary 
was in his early m.anhood when his family came to Houlton. 
being then but seventeen years of age. He commenced work 
as a carpenter on his father's new house, and afterwards worked 
for a number of years in the adjoining Province of New Bruns- 
wick. In 1826 he returned to Houlton and opened a store in 
part of the Cary residence, and soon after formed a partnership 
with Mr. Collins Whittaker, from New Salem. 

The new firm of S. Cary & Co. commenced the business of 



12 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

trading and lumbering, which they continued to enlarge until 
it reached dimensions hitherto unknown in this eastern section. 
The principal part of their business was cutting and squaring 
pine timber upon the upper St. John and Allegash waters, and 
driving the same into Fredericton. 

The extensive and beautiful farm at Seven Islands, some 
eighty miles above Ft. Kent, was cleared, and upon this farm 
immense quantities of hay and grain were raised for the lum- 
ber operations. The crews remained in the woods throughout 
the year, some being employed in cutting and hauling timber, 
and others in work upon the farm. Teams of six and eight 
horses were used for hauling the timber, and sometimes as 
many as 300 men and 200 horses and oxen were in their employ. 

Mr. W. Holman Gary Jr., a brother of Shepard Gary, was 
employed as overseer in the woods. This gentleman afterwards 
continued in the lumber business in connection with W. H. Gun- 
liffe, of Ft. Kent, under the firm name of Gary & Gunliffe, and 
later moved to Minnesota, where he died. His two sons, W. M. 
and W. H. Gary Jr., are now worthy and prosperous business 
men in that State. Mr. Gunliffe is now a resident of Ft. Kent 
and still continues in the lumber business. 

In all the years that Shepard Gary carried on this immense 
business and employed such large numbers of men, he was in- 
fluential in politics, served for many years as a member of the 
House and Senate of Maine, and was the acknowledged leader 
of the Democratic party in his Gounty. In 1843 he was elected 
to Gongress, and acquitted himself with honor. He built exten- 
sive mills and manufacturing establishments at Houlton, and in 
many ways impressed himself upon the business and political 
interests of Aroostook. He died at Houlton August 9, 1866. 

The settlement of Houlton was organized as a plantation 
April 21, 1826, and the town of Houlton was incorporated March 
8, 1831. The following April 11th, the first town meeting was 
held. The town includes the New Salem Grant, and also the 
half town granted about 1815 to the trustees of Williams Gol- 
lege, of Williamstown, Mass. This part of the town was for a 
long time known as Foxcroft, and many in modern times have 
supposed it was a grant to the Foxcroft Academy. 

At the time of the incorporation considerable progress had 
been made in the building of roads in order to render the new 
settlement more easy of access. We have seen that the first 
settlers came by way of the St. John River to Woodstock. Later 
arrivals came by way of Bangor, thence by the rivers, lakes 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 13 

and streams and the long swamp through the wilderness, to 
their forest homes. 

As early as 1827 a road was cut through to Baskahegan, 
and thus the distance was shortened, and the journey made 
easier. Mr. James Lander was the first mail carrier, and in the 
early days he traveled on foot through the woods, then on 
horseback, and later by carriage as the roads began to be 
opened. Mr. Lander continued to carry the mail from Houlton 
to Calais as late as 1856. 

In 1828 a new and prosperous era commenced for the strug- 
gling colony, for on a bright summer day in June of that year 
Company C. of the Second U. S. Infantry, under the command 
of First Lieut. Joseph C. Gallagher, having come up over the 
Baskahegan route, marched through the village to the merry 
music of fife and drum, and pitched their tents on the high 
ground in the rear of Mr. Joseph Houlton's house. Three other 
companies of the same Regiment, Company E., Lieut. Blood- 
good, Company F., Lieut. Staniford and Company K., Lieut. A. 
B. Eaton, were left behind to accompany the supplies, which 
the firm of Towle & Parsons, Bangor, had contracted to deliver 
at the Post at Houlton. 

The entire detachment was under the coramand of Major 
N. S. Clark, and the other three companies arrived at Houlton 
Sept. 29, 1828. In the meantime a tract of land, containing 25 
acres, had been purchased by the U. S. Government of Mr. 
Houlton, and on the arrival of the first company the men were 
immediately set at work to erect a stockade, and to build the 
necessary buildings for a complete military post. 

The work of preparing a parade ground was one of much 
magnitude, as an outcropping ledge had to be blasted, but when 
it was finally completed it was one of the finest grounds in the 
country. In the erection of so many buildings and the estab- 
lishment of a military post, the labor of many men were re- 
quired, and emplojnuent at good wages was provided for every 
man and boy willing to work. For some time the pay roll to 
these workmen amounted to about $2,000 a month. This large 
amount of money was of incalculable benefit, and from this time 
dates the assured prosperity of this banner town of Aroostook. 

The transportation of supplies for the Post from Bangor up 
the Penobscot River and Mattawamkeag Rivers, and thence over 
the rough roads to Houlton, was attended with so much difficul- 
ty that Maj. Clark determined to build a military road from 
Bangor direct to Houlton, and having obtained the necessary 



14 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

instructions from the Government, he proceeded to construct the 
road, which was finished in 1832, and was so fine a road that a 
party who left the town of Freeman, in Franklin County, on 
the 16th day of December of that year, drove to Houlton in 
four days. This road was for many years kept in an excellent 
condition and became one of the finest routes lor ma 1 coaches 
in. the State. Since the advent of the railroads it has gradually 
fallen into disuse and much of it is now considerably out oi re- 
pair. 

These garrison years were years of great prosperity for 
Houlton,- increasing to a great extent the bus Less or the town 
and furnishing a local cash market for all kinds or produce. The 
social relations between the miLtia and the cit.zens were most 
cordial. Many of the officers had thes w.ves at the garrison 
and some of those who came unmarried iour.d Wives among the 
fair daughters of the town. 

In the winter of 1836, Companies F and K of the Infantry 
were removed to Boston and subsequently the otiier companies 
followed and were replaced by Companies C E and F of the 
First Regiment U. S. Artllllery, who arrived at the Post on the 
11th of October, 1838. iMajor R. M. Kirby of the 1st Artillery 
now became Commander of the Post. Then followed the excit- 
ing times of the Aroostook War, which came so near beir.g a 
tragedy, but proved a farce. 

That Major Kirby realized that serious trouble might arise 
is evident from the fact that on February 1st, 1839, he writes to 
the Ordnance Department that "ten barrels of cannon powder 
should be constantly in magaz'ne, subject to such exigency as 
may occur on this frontier, at this isolated station." Major Kirby 
kept himself well informed in regard to the state or affairs in 
dispute between the authorities of Ma ne and New Brunswick 
and it is largely due to his judgment a..d d.scretion that more 
serious hostilities were not prec pitated. When requested by the 
Governor of Maine to co-operate with the State troops, he re- 
spectfully declined, as he Vvould not coxiipion-.ise the Un ted 
States by any act committed without orders. He informs Gov. 
Fairfield of the capture of Land Agent Mclntyre and party, but 
gives it as his opinion that it was an act comm.tted without au- 
thority, civil or military, from the Province of New Brunswick. 

The excitement in Maine increased, however, after this 
event, and in the spring of 1839 twelve companies of State 
Militia marched up the Military Road and quartered at different 
times m Houlton. By the prompt and judicious act. on or Gen. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 15. 

Scott, trouble was averted, as he negotiated an arrangement with 
Sir John Harvey, Governor of New Brunswick, that the troops 
on both sides should be withdrawn from the territory and the 
whole matter be referred to diplomatic action. The Garrison at 
Houlton was retained until after the final settlement by treaty 
of the disputed boundary question, when the troops were re- 
moved and the Military Post abandoned. 

It was a sad day for Houlton when its citizens bade adieu 
to the soldiers and saw them march away down the Military 
Road. Among those of the officers who afterwards obtained 
military farms were Lieuts. Hooker, McDowell, Ricketts and 
others of the Union Army, while Lieut. Magruder, afterwards 
of Rebel fame, was reme.iibered by the older c.tizen's as a dash- 
ing and popular young officer. As may be easily believed, the 
years following the departure of the troops brought hard times 
for Houlton and its surrounding towns. Having this ready mar- 
ket thus abruptly taken from them, money became scarce and 
a check was put upon the common prosperity. The large lumber 
and other operations of Shepard Gary were of great advantage 
during these years. Other lumbering operations were also car- 
ried on nearby, and the farmers turned their attention to raising^ 
supplies for the woods. This, with the making of shaved shin- 
gles in the winter, and the raising of beef cattle, which drovers 
took out of the Gounty, was for a long time the business of the 
farming population. 

The growth of Houlton was slow during these years, but 
the town received a new impetus from the coming of the rail- 
road. A railroad in New Brunswick was built from St. Andrews 
to Ganterbury in 1858 and in 1862 was continued to a point on 
the Woodstock turnpike, five miles from Houlton. This at once 
caused a revival of bus'ness and made it possible to ship from 
the section articles which formerly had little value except for 
home consumption. 

In the next ten years various changes were made in the 
Provincial railroad and in 1870 a branch was extended to Houl- 
ton. This gave Houlton railroad communication with the sea- 
board by way of Galais, but it was not until the E. & N. A. 
Railway was completed to Vanceboro in 1871, thus connecting 
Houlton, though by a circuitous route, with Bangor and the great 
American markets, that she became the busy inland city that 
we find today. Being practically the terminus of railroad com- 
munication with that portion of Southern Aroostook, Houlton 
came to be more than ever a trade center for all that large and 



16 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

fertile agricultural and lumber region, and its business and 
wealth has largely increased during the last decade. 

From a straggling settlement in the midst of an almost im- 
penetrable wilderness and practically devoid of all communica- 
tion with the great business centers it has grown to be the me- 
tropolis of northeastern Maine. 



HODGDON 



One of the oldest, as well as one of the best towns in South- 
ern Aroostook, is the good old town of Hodgdon. The early 
history of this town is intimately connected with that of the 
town of Houlton, as a number of the earliest settlers of Hodg- 
don moved from that town, and the Creek, as Houlton was then 
called, was for years the trading point of the town of Hodgdon. 

The south half of the township now included in the town 
of Hodgdon, was originally granted by the State of Massachu- 
setts to Westford Academy, and the high elevation of land ex- 
tending through a portion of the southern part of the town, is 
still known as Westford Hill. The resolve granting this half 
township to Westford Academy was passed by the General 
Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 27th of 
Feb., 1797. The tract was surveyed by Park Holland in 1801. 
It was deeded to John Hodgdon of Ware, New Hampshire, and 
Nathaniel Ingersoll of New Gloucester, Cumberland Co., Mass., 
by the trustees of Westford Academy, June 7, 1802, for the sum 
of $5760. The deed is signed by Jas. Prescott, Samson Tuttle 
and Hezekiah Packard. Nathaniel Ingersoll deeded his inter- 
est to John Hodgdon, Jan. 27, 1801-. for the sum of $1000. The 
bounds of the half township in the original deed began at the 
southeast corner, at a spruce tree on the boundary line between 
Maine and New Brunswick, marked "Four miles north from 
the monument at the head of the St. Croix River; thence north 
three miles; thence west 6 miles, south three miles, and east 6 
miles to the point of starting." The grantees were bound by 
the deed to lay out and convey a lot of 100 acres to each settler 
who was upon the township previous to Jan. 1, 1784, but as no 
settler had come to the town at that time, this condition was of 
no effect. 

They were also bound by the deed to set apart three lots 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 17 

of 160 acres each, for municipal and school purposes. This deed 
was recorded in the registry of deeds of Washington County, 
September 12, 1782. 

The north half of the present town of Hodgdon was grant- 
ed by Massachusetts to Groton Academy, by a resolve passed 
on the 27th of Feb., 1797. The deed to the trustees of Groton 
Academy bears the date of June 4, 1802. The half township 
was surveyed by Park Holland in 1801, and was deeded to 
John Hodgdon by the trustees of Groton Academy Jan. 28, 1805. 
This deed is signed by Timothy Bigelow, Jas. Boyle and Oliver 
Prescott. It was recorded May 28, 1824. By both deeds 
the grantees were bound to settle 10 families within six years 
from the date of the deeds. 

On June 16, 1809, John Hodgdon deeded to Daniel Breed of 
Ware, N. H., 200 acres undescribed except as being an undivided 
part of the Westford Grant, and on the same day deeded to 
Moses Hodgdon 300 acres, also undivided. These men were 
never settlers upon the town. 

All of the original settlers of the town have passed away, 
and it is quite difficult to trace the history of the early settle- 
ment of the town. We shall endeavor to tell the story briefly 
of many of the pioneers who lived in this good town, and the 
influence of whose lives helped to make the town what it is 
socially and morally today. 

The earliest deed appearing upon the record is the deed 
from John Hodgdon to Aaron Perley of Lot 7 Range 8 in the 
north half of the town. This deed is dated June 4, 1824, and the 
lot is the one so long occupied by Deacon Putnam Shaw on the 
Calais Road. Mr. Perley deeded this lot to Samuel Houlton of 
Houlton June 18, 1827. September 9, 1826, John Hodgdon 
deeds to Chesley Drew of Hodgdon Plantation, physician. Lot 
No. 2, Range 7, No. 1-2, which is the lot afterward occupied 
by Geo. White, and now by Millard Jones. Sept. 18, 1826, John 
Hodgdon deeds to Jane Taylor and her sons, James, George, 
Charles and William, for $100, lot numbered 3, Range 7, North 
1-2, "same upon which their improvements now are." These 
grantees were the wife and sons of James U. Taylor, one of the 
oldest settlers of the town. 

September 13, 1826, Mr. Hodgdon deeds to Joseph Kendall 
Lot No. 8, Range 8, North 1-2, which lot is now owned by C. E. 
Skoffe'd. It would apoear that John Hodgdon, Sr., died in 1826 
or 1827, for on Nov. 12, 1827 "John Hodgdon of Bangor, student 
at law," gives Joshua Putnam of Houlton a power of attorney 



18 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

to act as his agent for the sale of the lands in Hodgdon Planta- 
tion. This John flodgdon was the son and heir of the original 
proprietor, and was afterwards, for a number of years, a resi- 
dent of the town which bears his name. 

The early settlers who came upon the town to make a home 
were Jas. A. Taylor, Dr. Chesley Drew, Jos. Kendall and Jas. 
Doyle, but who was the first man to commence a clearing, we 
are at present unable to determine. It is quite certain, how- 
ever, that all the above mentioned settlers came to the town in 
1824, although they did not receive their deeds until a few 
years afterwards. Dr. Chesley Drew came from Massachusetts 
to Hodgdon in 1824 and bought the lot on the west side of the 
Calais Road on the top of the hill, two miles from Houlton Vil 
lage. 

Elisha A. Drew, a son of Dr. Drew, bought the two lots ad- 
joining his father's, the one on the east, the other on the west. 
He lived with his father. They made a large clearing, hauled 
much of the wood to the Garrison at Houlton, and built on the 
Dr. Drew lot a large house and two barns. About 1836 the 
Drews sold the property to Mr. Thos. White, and moved to 
New Brunswick. Mr. White lived upon the farm until his death 
some 25 years ago. His son, Geo. White, then came into pos- 
session of the farm and made improvements upon the farm and 
buildings. He died some ten years ago, and the farm was a 
few years afterwards sold to Millard H. Jones, who now occu- 
pies it. Mr. Jas. U. Taylor moved from Houlton in 1824 and 
took the lot next south of Dr. Drew. He cleared up the farm, 
and for many years was a well known resident of the town. 

During the construction of the Military Road, and in fact 
before that time, when the supplies for the Garrison were hauled 
over the old "Soldier Road," Mr. Taylor was a noted ox team- 
ster, and was employed in that caoacity in transporting suoplies 
and building the road. He lived upon the farm in Hodgdon 
till his death, some 18 years ago. His oldest son, Mr. Chas. 
Taylor, had the farm opposite the old homestead, and still lives 
upon it. Many other descendants are living in this and adjoin- 
ing towns. Mr. Jos. Kendall also moved from Houlton in 1824 
and took a lot of land near where the road now turns from the 
Calais Road toward Hodgdon Mills. Mr. Kendall was the son 
of Deacon Samuel Kendall, one of the early settlers of Houl- 
ton. He was a man of considerable education and culture, and 
afterward wrote a voluminous history of Houlton, which, how- 
ever, was never published. Mr. Kendall made a very fine farm 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 19 

upon his lot, one of the best, in fact, in this part of the town. 
Some 15 years ago he moved to Houlton, where he died. The 
farm was afterwards sold to C. E. Skofield, who now lives upon 
it. Mr. Jas. Doyle took the lot next north of the Dr. Drew lot, 
and next to the Houlton line. He cleared a farm here and built 
a house and barn. He lived there some years and sold to Lewis 
Morrill. He was a prominent man in the town until he moved 
to the West, and Mr. John Hodgdon again obtained possession 
of the farm. 

The deed to Aaron Perley bears the date of 1824, but it is 
uncertain who commenced clearing upon his lot. Mr. Perley 
came from Monmouth, and bought the lot next north of Joseph 
Kendall, and probably commenced his clearing soon after the 
first settlers came. He did not remain many years upon this 
lot, but removed to the lot in the west part of the town, upon 
which Mr. Jas Rhoda now lives. He cleared up this farm and 
lived upon it until his death in 1850. His widow married Eli- 
akim Ames, who lived upon the farm until his death in 1859. 
Chas. Perley, a son of Aaron Perley, went into the army and 
died in the service. 

Capt. Ebenezer Towne came from Topsfield, Mass., in 1825 
and took the lot on the Calais Road, on which Mr. J. W. Jack- 
ins now lives. Mr. Jos. Kendall had made a clearing on his 
lot, and Capt. Towne, who was a carpenter by trade, helped 
Mr. Kendall build a house and lived with him until he could 
clear a piece of land and build a house on his own lot. Capt. 
Towne cleared up a farm and lived upon it until 1843, when he 
sold to his son-in-law, Mr. Alfred Todd, and made a home with 
another son-in-law. Rev. Daniel Outhouse, until his death, in 
1866. Mr. Todd afterward removed to Maysville in North 
Aroostook, and sold his farm to Mr. J, W. Jackins, who still 
lives upon it. 

In 1826 Mr. Rufus Wiggin came to Hodgdon, and bought 
the lot opposite Capt. Towne's. Mr. Wiggin came from the 
town of Bowdoinham, but for many years had worked at his 
trade as ship carpenter at Oromocto, N. B. He first took a lot 
in the west part of the town, afterward owned by Ephraim Benn, 
but as there was no road in that part of the town, he gave up 
the lot after felling about half an acre, and took a lot on the 
I'ne of the Calais Road. Here he cleared a farm and made a 
home, and was one of the most prominent citizens of the town 
until h's death in 1864. He was for many years a deacon of 
the F. B. Church, and was a faithful worker for the moral and 
religious interests of his town. He was in town office during 



20 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

the whole of his residence in the town, and was postmaster for 
many years. He was a man of kindly disposition, scrupulously 
honest, and was beloved and respected by all who knew him. 
His son, Cyrus S. Wiggin, no w lives on the old farm. His 
oldest son, Edgar M. Wiggin, for many years a prominent man 
in the town, married the widow of Benedict White, a son of 
Thos. White, and lived on the farm opposite the White home- 
stead until his death. His widow still lives upon the farm. 

Mr. Thos. Lander came from the town of Fairfield in 1826, 
and settled on the lot where Henry Jones now lives, three miles 
from Houlton village, on. the Calais Road. Mr. Lander and his 
son, Jesse Lander, cleared up this farm, and Mr. Lander lived 
on it until his death in 1846. He was one of the prominent citi- 
zeris in the early days, and an old account book of his now in 
possession of Mr. Jones, shows that he had considerable deal- 
ings with the old settlers. One item in this old book is as fol- 
lows: "June 15, 1829. Charles Dr. to horse to River 

(meaning to Woodstock) $1.00. Cr. Came home sober to bal- 
ance." 

After his death his son Jesse Lander took the farm and 
lived on it until 1851, when he returned to Fairfield, where he 
died. Mr. Henry Jones, a grandson of Thos. Lander, by whom 
he was brought up, then bought the farm, and has lived on it 
ever since. Mr. Jones was chairman of the board of selectmen 
for 20 years. Mr. James Lander, another son of Thomas 
Lander, was the first regular mail carrier to Houlton, carrying 
the mail on foot through the woods, on the old Baskahegan 
trail, before any road was laid to the town. Afterwards the 
Calais Road was opened and Mr. Lander drove the stage and 
carried the mail many years. He was a kind hearted, energetic 
and faithful publ'c servant. He died about 30 years ago. 

James Ham went from Bath to Oromocto, N. B., and worked 
some time in the shipyard at that place. He came to Hodgdon 
in 1827 and took a lot on the Calais Road, south of Mr. Thos. 
Lander's, and on the opposite side of the road. He cleared a 
farm and lived on it until his death, some 40 years ago. His 
son, Benj. Ham, lived on the place for some time, and his son- 
in-law, Mr. Alvarez Putnam, now of Houlton, occupied it for a 
number of years. It has since been divided, and is now owned 
by several proprietors. Mr. Abner Ham, a brother of Mr. Ham, 
also came at the same time and took a lot in the extreme south 
part of the town. 

Here he made a farm, on which he lived until his death 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 21 

many years ago. Mr. L E.. Jackins now lives upon this lot. 
Many descendants of these two brothers are now living in 
Hodgdon and other towns in Aroostook Co. 

Mr. Asa Brown came from Solon in 1827, and took a lot 
adjoining the Houlton line, which is now a part of the John R. 
Slipp farm. This lot was deeded by John Hodgdon in 1829 to 
"Nancy Brown of Hodgdon Plantation, married woman." Mr. 
Brown cleared a farm here, and was a man of some prominence 
in the town during his residence there. He lived upon the farm 
some 14 years, when he moved to Bangor, and Mr. John Hodg- 
don purchased the farm. 

In 1828 there was quite an immigration into the new town, 
and a number of settlers came during that year who became 
prominent citizens of the town, and had much to do with shap- 
ing its affairs. Mr. Daniel Smith came from Jrlamp stead, N. B., 
in 1828 and bought a lot on the line of the Calais Road in the 
south part of the town. Mr. Marcus Peters had made a small 
clearing on the lot and built a log house, and Mr. Smith bought 
his improvements. He was one of the first settlers in this por- 
tion 01 the town. He made a good farm and lived upon it until 
his death in 1858. Daniel Smith was a modest and retirmg 
man, but a man of sterling integrity, and is remembered as one 
of the best citizens of the town. His son, Benj. J. Smith, after- 
wards had the farm for a number of years, and sold it to Mr. 
Andrew J. Tidd, and removed to Caribou, where he is now land- 
lord of the Vaughn House (1890). 

Mr, John Outhouse came the next year from Nova Scotia, 
and bought the lot next south of Daniel Smith, and also the two 
lots adjoining on the East. He made clearings on all these lots, 
and built his buildings on the middle lot, through which the 
Calais Road ran. This 300 acre block was afterwards divided 
transversely into three lots, so that the buildings on each could 
be built on a county road. Rev. Daniel Outhouse, a son of 
John Outhouse, had the south 100 acres. John J. Royal had 
the middle lot, and Geo. H. Smith, a son of Daniel Smith, the 
north lot. 

Mr. John Outhouse spent the last years of his life with his 
son, Daniel, and died at his house about 1850. Rev. Daniel 
Outhouse was for many years a preacher of the Calvinist Bap- 
tist ia th, and v;as a good man and much respected. He died 
in 1878, and his widow now lives near Hodgdon Mills. 

Mr. Thos. J. Erov/n came in 1828 from Madrid, in Franklin 
Co. He first settled on a lot in the north half of the town, next 



22 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

to the Linneus line. Here he made a good farm, and lived upon 
it until 1858, when he exchanged farms with Mr. Benj. Tarbell, 
and moved to the Tarbell farm near Hodgdon Corner, where 
he lived until his death in 1862. He was an energetic busi- 
ness man, and for many years engaged in lumbering and trading. 
Maj. James Daggett came from Wiscassett in 1828, and took 
the lot in the extreme south part of the town on the Calais Road, 
on which Mr. James Robinson now lives. His son, Ebenezer 
Daggett, lived with him until 1849, when he went to California, 
and did not return to Hodgdon to live. Maj. Daggett cleared up 
a far^ and lived on it a number of years, and then gave it to his 
son, Frank Daggett, and moved to Massachusetts. He after- 
wards returned to Hodgdon, but soon went to live with his son, 
James Daf^gett, in Amity, where he died in 1856. 

Mr. Frank Daggett lived upon the old farm for a number 
of years, and then sold to Mr. C. C. Bradbury and moved to 
Massachusetts, where he now lives. Mr. Waterman Daggett, a 
s'^n of Mai. Dargett. rame with his father, and took the lot on 
the east. Here he made a farm, on which he died in 1879. His 
son, Diego Daggett, row lives on the farm. Jabez Daggett, 
another son of Maj. Daggett, also came with his father, and 
bought a lot on the south line of the town, on which Mr. Chas. 
Nickerson now lives. He lived here until 1849, when he sold to 
Mr. Nickerson and went to California, where he died. James 
Daggett, another son, settled on a lot next west of his father's. 
A number of years afterward he moved to Amity, and died there 
some years ago. Many descendants of these brothers now live 
in Aroostook County. 

Nathaniel Harr'ngton came from Boston to Hodgdon in 
1828. He was a mason by trade. He settled near Meduxnekeag 
Stream on the north part of the town. He died about 20 years 
ago (about 1870) and Joseph Hrarington now lives on the farm. 
Another son. Rev. E. W. Harrington, long a resident of Hodg- 
don, is now a pastor of a church in Calais. Benj. Durrell came 
about this time and settled near what is now Hodgdon Corner. 
He made a clearing and built a house, and after a few years 
moved to the west part of the State. Mr. Jas. Jones from Solon 
then took the lot and lived on it for ten years or more, when he 
sold to Mr. Benj. Tarbell, who also came from Solon. 

About 1858 Mr. Tarbell exchanged farms with Mr. Thos. G. 
Brown, and died on the Brown farm a few years ago. Benj. Wil- 
liams in 1829 settled on the lot now occupied by Mr. Matthew 
Wilson. He made a clearing and lived there a number of years, 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 23 

when he sold to Mr. Wilson and moved to the adjoining township 
11, Range 1, now Gary Plantation. Mr. Wilson has lived on the 
farm ever since, and is now about the oldest living resident of 
the town. He came from Ireland to Hodgdon in 1830, and first 
settled in the west part of the town. A number of sons are liv- 
ing on adjoining farms. 

In 1829 the three Benn brothers, Ephraim, Abraham and 
Solomon, came to Hodgdon from Mirimachi, whither they had 
emigrated a short time previous from the Green Isle Erin. They 
at first all settled on lots a short distance west of the stream on 
which Mr. Lewis Benn now lives. Mr. Ephraim Benn after- 
wards took a lot further west, on a handsome swell of land, and 
Mr. Abraham Benn bought the lot adjoining on the south. Sol- 
omon Benn remained on the original lot. All cleared up good 
farms in town. Solomon died in 1867, and his farm is now 
owned by his son, Lewis Benn. 

Ephraim died in 1876. Mr. Jonathan Benn, his son, has his 
farm, and has now 200 acres of splendid land, with 150 acres 
cleared. He has a large and handsome house, two large barns, 
a horse stable and other convenient outbuildings. Mr. Abraham 
Benn died in 1877. Ghas. Smart came to Hodgdon about this 
time and settled on a lot next north of the Solomon Benn lot, 
where he lived for many years. He then moved to a lot on the 
"Horseback," and afterwards to Haynesville, where he died. Mr. 
Jared Williams then bought the farm and lived on it a number of 
years. 

Mr. Isaac Gerow came from Hampstead, N. B., in 1830, and 
settled on a lot next east of Daniel Smith. He lived in Hodgdon 
until his death in 1866. Abraham Gerow came about the same 
time and settled on a lot opposite Mr. Joseph Kendall. Benj. 
Durrell had made a small clearing on the lot. Mr, Gerow 
cleared a farm on which he lived for a number of years, and 
then sold to his brother, Joseph, and returned to New Brunswick. 
The farm afterwards passed through a number of hands and is 
now owned by Mr. Wm. Jones. Mr. Joseph Gerow came also 
from New Brunswick, and settled on a lot east of Aaron Per- 
ley. Mr. Wm. Deering had made a clearing on the lot )hnd 
bu'lt a house and barn. Mr. Gerow cleared up a large farm and 
made additions to the house, raising it to two stories, and mak- 
ing other improvements. He was a prominent man in the town 
for many years, and lived on this farm until his death in 1862. 

Mr. Cushman Walker came from Anson in 1830. He first 
took the lot on which Mr. Abraham Benn afterwards lived, 



24 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

where he made a small clearing and built a log house. He sold 
to Mr. Benn and took a lot in the north part of the town, a short 
distance west of the stream. Here he made a good farm and 
was also engaged in trade for a number of years. He died on 
th's farm some time in 1875. Mr. Henry Hotham then settled on 
the farm. 

Capt. Luther Quint came from Anson with Mr. Walker, and 
settled on the lot next east of Mr. Ephraim Benn. He cleared 
up th'S farm, and died there many years ago. The farm was af- 
terwards divided between the sons, Edwin and Calvin, both of 
whom are now dead. 

Mr. John Hutchinson came from Turner in 1831 and settled 
on a lot next south of the Abraham Benn farm. He cleared a 
farm, upon vhich he lived some twenty years, and then moved 
to a lot on Meduxnekeag Stream. His son, Mr. C. C. Hutchin- 
son, moved with him to this lot. They made a clearing and built 
a house upon the lot. There was a good mill privilege upon this 
lot, and in 1854, after his father's death, Mr. C. C. Hutchinson 
built a mill on the stream which runs through this lot. In 1860 
Mr. Hutchinson built a large saw mill in which he put a rotary, 
a clapboard machine and lath saw. He cleared up a large farm 
and was for many years extensively engaged in farming. He 
was an energetic, persevering man, and took a prominent part 
in the affairs of the tov/n. He died in 1883. His son, Alonzo 
S. Hutchinson, then took the property and operated the mills 
until they burned in 1885. He has since built a shingle mill on 
the old site. Mr. Matthias Hutchinson, a younger son, worked 
with his father until 1875, when he built a steam mill near Lin- 
neus Corner which he afterwards sold to Benj. Alexander, and 
in company with Levi Berry built a large steam mill near Hodg- 
don Mills. He afterwards sold this to Messrs. Price and Bea- 
tham, who, after running it a few years, sold it to Messrs. Sharp 
& Ketchum. Mr. Sharp has since sold his interest to Mr. Ketch- 
um, who now operates the mill. 

Isaac Hutchinson, a son of John Hutchinson, came from 
Turner with his father in 1835. He bought a lot next to the Lin- 
neus line and made a farm, upon which he lived until his death 
in 1854. His son, Isaac L. Hutchinson, now lives upon the farm. 

Mr. Chas. Lyons came about this time, and first settled on 
the road from the mill to the corner. He was a wheelright. He 
soon afterwards took a lot on Westford Hill, on which Mr. Wm. 
Gerow has lived since 1846. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 25 

After some years Mr. Lyons moved to a lot beyond West- 
iord Hill, and afterwards moved to Weston. 

David Porter came from Bridgton in 1832 and settled on a 
lot east of Abraham Benn. He died some 14 years ago. His 
son, Stephen Porter, now lives on the farm. He has a fme two- 
:story house and a large barn. 

Thos. P. Packard came from new Limerick to Hodgdon about 
1832 and settled on a lot near the mills. He was prominent man 
:in the town during his residence in it and was town clerk for a 
number of years. He was also postmaster. He moved to Houl- 
ton and sold his farm to C. C. Bradbury. 

Abraham Greene came from Boston in 1833 and settled on 
the lot west of Thos. Lander. He cleared a farm on which he 
lived for a number of years and returned to Boston. Mr. Fran 
■cis Hunter went from Calais to Mirimachi when a young man 
•and in 1834 came to Hodgdon and took a lot next to the Linneus 
line. Here he made a good farm on which he lived until his 
death in 1877. He was a worthy man and a good citizen. His 
son. Mr. George S. Hunter, now lives on the farm. He has 80 
acres of cleared land, with excellent buildings. 

Mr. Nicholas Outhouse came from Nova Scotia in 1834 and 
settled on the lot next north of Thos. Lander. His son, Wm. H. 
Outhouse, lived with him and carried on the farm for many 
years. 

Nicholas Outhouse died in 1887. William Henry died two 
years previous, and his widow still lives on the farm. 

Mr. Wm. Addington came from Nova Scotia to Hodgdon 
-with Mr. Joseph Gerow. He bought a farm on what is now the 
Hurter road. His deed from John Hodgdon to Wm. Addington 
of Digby Neck, Nova Scotia, is dated March 22, 1832. Mr. Ad- 
dington lived on this farm many years, and then moved to 
Hodgdon Mills, built a blacksmith shop and worked at that 
business for a number of years. He also bought a small farm 
near the mills, which he still owns. Nearly all the above named 
settlers took lots either near the County line or on it, or in the 
west part of the town. In the earliest years settlement was made 
in the east part of the town, many of the pioneers of that section 
having moved from the Province of New Brunswick. The east- 
ern part of the town of Hodgdon has always been known to the 
citizens of the town and vicinity as the White Settlement, as 
people of that name settled in that portion of the town in the 
earliest days of its history. Mr. Jacob White came from Kes- 
wick, N. B., about 1826, and first made a clearing on the lot af- 



26 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

terwards known as the Patrick Ferry farm. He built a lag: 
house on this lot, but soon after bought two lots still further 
east — lots No. 3 and 4, Range 2, where he cleared up a large 
farm, upon which he lived for many years and was a well known 
c.tizen of the town. Mr. Wm. White came from Douglas, N. B.,. 
about the same time, and took a lot immediately north of the 
one upon wh.ch Jacob White first settled. He cleared a farm 
and lived on it until his death some thirty years ago. 

Mr. Lewis Stone came from Keswick, N. B., in 1826 or 1827, 
and settled upon the lot where Jacob White first made his clear- 
ing. Mr. Stone cleared up the farm, and lived upon it until about 
1844, when he moved to Wisconsin. Mr. Edwin A. Lowe, now 
ov/ns this farm. Mr. William Stone came at the same time and 
settied on the next lot south of Lewis Stone. He cleared this 
farm and Lved on it until his death some twenty years ago. Mr. 
Edwin Henderson now lives upon the farm. Mr. James Grant 
came from New Burnswick about this time, and settled on a lot 
adjoining the boundary line. He made a good farm and lived on 
it until his death about 1861. Mr. Thos. Buckley now owns this 
farm. Many of the descendants of the White and Grant fami- 
lies formerly lived in this portion of the town, but nearly all of 
them have now removed to other portions of the coimtry and 
elsewhere. 

Mr. Thomas Furze emigrated from Devonshire, England, 
to Fredericton, N. B., when a young man, and in 1830 came to 
Hodgdon and settled on a lot adjoining the boundary line. He 
made a farm upon which he lived until his death in 1875. His 
son, Mr. George Furze, was for many years a prominent and re- 
spected citizen. He died in 1887. 

Mr. Jos. D. Haven came to this part of the town in the early 
years, and settled on the lot south of William Stone. Mr. Haven 
made a fine farm, and was for many years a prominent citizen 
of Hodgdon. Some ten years ago he sold his farm to Mr. John 
Moore, and moved to the George Furze farm, where he lived 
three years, and then moved to Houlton, where he now resides. 

Mr. Thomas Lloyd came to Hodgdon about 1830, and 
settled upon the lot upon which his son, Thomas Lloyd 
now lives. A man by the name of Worley, who is said to be the 
first man to make an opening in this part of the town, had made 
a small clearing on the lot, and built a log house. Mr. Lloyd 
cleared up the farm and lived on it until 1870. 

Mr. John Bell came from New Brunswick about 1830, and 
settled east of Westford Hill. Mr. Bell lived here until h"s 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 27 

death in 1873, and many of his descendants are now living in 
Hodgdon and other portions of the County. 

Mr. Francis Bird came to Hodgdon in 1831, and settled on a 
lot in the east part of the town adjoining the Houlton line. He 
afterwards bought the William White lot adjoining his on the 
south, and now has a fine farm of 200 acres, with 175 cleared. 

Mr, John P. Lincoln went from Eath, Me., to Oromocto, N. 
B., to work at his trade as a ship carpenter. In 1835 he came to 
Hodgdon, and settled on the lot on which his son, Mr. Leonard 
Lincoln, now lives. Mr. Lincoln was a well known citizen for 
many years, and one of the most substantial and independent 
farmers. He died in 1882. Mr. Benjamin T. Lincoln also came 
from Oromocto, N. B., in 1837, and took one of the lots upon 
which his brother, John P. Lincoln, had settled two years before. 
Each of the brothers afterward bought an additional hundred 
acres nearby. Mr. Benj. T. Lincoln was for many years a mem- 
ber of the board of selectmen, and was a man of kindly and 
companionable disposition, and had many strong friends. He 
died in 1888. Mr. John Lincoln, father of John P. and Benjamin 
T., came to Hodgdon in 1840, and took the next lot south of the 
one occupied by the sons. Here he cleared a farm and lived 
upon it a number of years, when he sold it to John P. Lincoln 
and went to live with his son, Warren Lincoln, on the Calais 
Road. He afterwards removed to Wisconsin, where he died in 
1864. 

Mr. Warren Lincoln came to Hodgdon about 1843, and 
took the lot next east of Benj. T. Lincoln. He made a clearing 
upon this lot, and afterward sold it to Mr. Thomas Butler, and 
removed to a farm in the south part of the town on the Calais 
road. He lived upon this farm until 1854, when his buildings 
were burned and he sold the farm and removed to Wisconsin. 

Rev. Geo. W. Haskell came from Poland, Androscoggin Co., 
in 1843 and settled in the White Settlement. He was a clergy- 
man of the Free Baptist denomination. He was pastor of the 
Free Baptist Church in that portion of the town until 1855, when 
he bought a farm on the Calais road opposite Mr. Daniel Smith, 
whose daughter he married. Here he built a neat residence, 
where he lived and continued to labor in his profession until 
his death in 1874. Elder Haskell was a man well known through- 
out Aroostook County. He took a prominent part in the affairs 
of the town, and was a number of times chosen as a representa- 
tive to the Legislature. He was a man of most genial and kind- 



28 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

ly temperament, and had many friends in his town and through- 
out the County. 

Mr. Thomas Buckley, better known as Deacon Buckley, 
came to Hodgdon in 1846 and a few years later bought of Mr. 
Warren Lincoln the farm upon which he now lives. There was 
a small clearing on the lot and Dea. Buckley cleared a handsome 
farm, which he has very much enlarged by the purchase of a 
large tract adjoining. 

Mr. Joshua Atherton moved to Hodgdon about 1850, and 
first settled on a farm east of Westford Hill. He afterward 
moved to a farm near Mr. J. D. Haven, where he lived until his 
death in 1882. His son, William W. Atherton, now lives upon 
the farm. The above named were the principal settlers in the 
east part of the town in the early days. 

Very soon after the first settlers came to the town, Mr. John 
Hodgdon and Mr. Jabez Bradbury built a mill on the Meduxne- 
keag Stream at what is now the thriving village of Hodgdon 
Mills. The mill property afterward came into Mr. Bradbury's 
possession, and at his death, the sons, George and David Brad- 
bury, carried on the business until about 1854, when they sold 
the property to Mr. William Robinson. 

In 1861 Messrs. Gilman Jewett and B. E. H. Durrell, came 
to Hodgdon from Dexter and purchased the mill property, 
which consisted at that time of a saw mill, grist mill, and card- 
ing mill. The saw mill contained an up-and-down saw, shingle 
machine, and lath and clapboard machine. The grist mill con- 
tained three runs of stones, and conected with it was a mill for 
preparing oats for grinding. 

In 1861 Jewett & Durrell repaired and enlarged the saw m'll, 
and put in a rotary for sawing long lumber. They also tore down 
the old grist mill and built a r.-ew one in the most thorough man- 
ner upon the same site. They now have every appliance for 
making first-class flour. To the carding they added a fulling 
mill and cloth dressing machinery. They carried on the cloth 
business and wool carding for a number of years, and then sold 
the machinery to Mr. Chas. Tarbell, who removed it to a build- 
ing better fitted to that purpose further down the stream. 

Capt. Thomas, formerly of Bangor, leased the saw mill for 
a number of years, and carried on a large business in the manu- 
facture of lumber. Capt Thomas also bought a farm near the 
mill and set out a large orchard, which is still bearing abundant- 
ly. He afterwards sold the farm and removed to the town of 
Veazie, where he now resides. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 29 

Mr. Lewis Brown of Houlton also leased the mill for a num- 
"ber of years after Capt. Thomas left. The saw mill was burned 
in 1882 and was immediately rebuilt. Mr. Durrell died in 1882 
and Mr. Jewett bought the entire property. In addition to his 
mill business, Mr. Jewett was quite extensively engaged in 
farming- Very soon after coming to the town he bought the 
farm formerly owned by Mr. Stillman Pollard, an old resident 
of the town, and took much interest in its management and im- 
provement. He was engaged in mercantile business for some 
years, having a store near the mill. Mr. Jewett died in Decem- 
ber, 1890, and his son, Gilman F. Jewett, now occupies this fine 
property. Mr. Christopher C. Bradbury came to Hodgdon from 
New Limerick in 1836 and bought the T. P. Packard farm near 
the mills. He was for many years engaged in the management 
of the mills and when they were sold to Mr. Robinson in 1854, 
Deacon Bradbury removed to the farm in the south part of the 
town, now owned by Mr. Edwin Robinson. He lived o nthis farm 
a number of years and then removed to West Virginia, where he 
afterward died. Deacon Bradbury was one of the sterling citi- 
zens of the town and his memory is still cherished as one of the 
strong men of the early days who helped to mould the character 
'of the new town. 

Mr. John C. Ingraham came from New Brunswick in 1839 
and bought a lot on the "horseback," a short mile from the mills. 
Mr. Robert Benn had cleared a few acres and built a small house 
on the lot. Mr. Ingraham cleared up a fine farm and with his 
son, Mr. Henry Ingraham, built a handsome set of farm build- 
ings. Mr. Ingraham has been a prominent man in the town for 
many years. He has been town clerk for sixteen years, treas- 
urer fifteen years and trial justice for twenty-five years. For the 
past twenty years he has been in the employ of Mr. Gilman 
Jewett as clerk and bookkeeper. Mr. Ingraham is now eighty- 
four years of age, but is still smart and active. 

Mr. Isaac B. Adams came from New Brunswick in 1839 and 
settled on a lot near the mills and worked for many years in the 
grist mill. Mr. Adams died in 1860 and his sons are worthy 
citizens of Hodgdon and adjoining towns. 

Mr. John Hodgdon, the proprietor of the township, moved 
to the town which bears his name about the year 1843. He made 
a large farm consisting of the Asa Brown, Lewis Morrill, Harri- 
son Howes and other adjoining farms which made an extensive 
block of most excellent land. He established his residence on 
this farm near the Houlton line and built the buildings now 



30 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

owned and occupied by Mr. John R. Sllpp. Mr. Hodgdon took 
an active part in the affairs of the town and in 1844 was chosea 
chairman of the board of selectmen and also town treasurer. He 
lived :n the town four or five years and afterwards removed to 
Houlton, where he formed a partnership with Hon. J. C. Madi- 
gan in the law business and in the purchase and sale of timber 
lands. Mr. Hodgdon afterwards removed to Dubuque, Iowa„ 
where he died a number of years ago. 

Deacon Putnam Shaw moved from Houlton about 1844 and 
bought of Joseph Gerow the Aaron Perley lot on the Calais ro-id. 
Deacon Shaw lived on this farm until his death in 1867. He was. 
a good man and a worthy citizen, always working for the best 
moral interest of the town. 

Mr. Edwin A. Low was one of the prominent citizens of 
the town for many years and was for much of the time during 
his residence a town officer. His home was in the east part or 
the town. He is now residing in Houlton. 

Mr. B. C. Smith came from Weston to Hodgdon about 1850 
and bought a farm in the south part of the town. Mr. Smith 
was a blacksmith by trade and worked at that business for some 
time after coming to Hodgdon. He was afterwards for a num- 
ber of years extensively engaged in lumbering. He was an 
active, energetic bus'ness man and was much respected by his 
fellow townsmen. He spent the last years of his life at the home 
of his son-in-law, Mr. F. C. Nickerson, of Linneus. His oldest 
son. Col. Zemro A. Smith of the 1st Me. Heavy Artillery, was 
for a number of years on the staff of the Boston Journal and is 
now engaged in journalistic work in the West. Hon. J. O. 
Smith, the next son, is the present Insurance Commissioner of 
Ma'ne and ed'tor of the Somerset Reporter. Mr. N. D. Smith, 
youngest surviving son, is a prosperous merchant in Portland. 
Another son, George A. Smith, was killed in the service of his 
country. 

The town was incorporated February 11, 1832. It lies im- 
mediately south of Houlton and is bounded on the east by the 
New Brunswick line, on the south by Township No. 11, Range 
1, now Cary, and on the west by the town of Linneus. The 
Meduxnekeag stream runs in nearly a due north course entirely 
across the town at a distance of something over a mile and a 
half from its western line. The peculiar natural formation 
known as the "horseback," extends across the town parallel with 
the stream and but a short distance west of it. A short distance 
south of the middle line of the town, Westford Hill, a beautiful 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 31 

aelevation of land, extending two miles from east to west across 
this part of the town. With the exceptions of these elevations 
the town is very level, the surface nowhere being broken by ab- 
rupt elevations. In the extreme southeastern portion of the 
town is a comparatively small tract of low lying land hardly 
suitable for easy cultivation, and east of the Calais road, on the 
jear of the road lots in the north part of the town, are a few 
swamp lots. Aside from these small blocks the town i sa most 
-excellent one for agricultural purposes and every lot in town ex- 
-cept those spoken of is capable of making a good farm, and in- 
deed most of them are already made. 

In looking over the good old town of Hodgdon we find that 
it has fully kept up its reputation as one of the best towns in 
the county. After many years of cultivation the farms are still 
producing bountifully and show no signs of losing their fertil- 
ity. Waste places are being reclaimed. Many new and hand- 
some farm buildings have been recently built and evidences of 
prosperity and good cultivation are seen on every hand. 



WESTON 



The tract of land included in the town of Weston at the 
time of its incorporation was originally granted to the trustees 
of Hampden Academy and consisted of a parallelogram two and 
one half miles wide and seven and one-fifth miles long. This 
rectangular tract extends in a northwesterly and southeasterly 
direction, its northwest corner projecting a short distance be- 
yond a bend in the Mattawamkeag River and its southwest cor- 
ner extending something over half a mile south of the Baska- 
hegan stream. The east line of the original town just skirts the 
lakes, leaving between this line and Grand Lake an irregular 
tract containing some 6000 acres, known as the Monroe Gore. 

The resolve granting this half township to Hampden Acad- 
e^v was passed by the Legislature of Massachusetts June 18, 
1803. The tract was surveyed by Charles Turner, Jr., in the 
year 1804, and the following is a record of his survey: "Be- 
ginning at a cedar stake, marked, standing at the southeast end 
of the Indian Portash (sic) or carrying place from Baskahegan 
stream to the Great Schoodic Lake and run east by the magnet 
one mile and 280 rods to a beech (sic) tree marked 'S. E. C. 



32 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOKT 

H. A. C. T, 1804,' from thence run north 700 rods to a white 
pine tree marked, standing by the Great Scoodic Lake. Began 
agam at the aforesaid cedar stake at Baskahegan and run west 
(crossing said stream) 200 rods to a white maple tree marked 
'S. W. C. H. A. C. T. 1804,' from thence run north (crossing 
Baskahegan at 190 rods) continue on in the whole seven miles 
and sixty-five and a quarter rods to a stake, marked, from 
thence run south till it strikes the Great Lake, passing through 
ponds, thence by said lake till it comes to the afore-mentioned 
white pine tree." 

IhiS record reads somewhat blindly at first sight, but upon 
comparison with tne map of the town the original boundaries can 
be readily traced. Mr. Turner run north "by the magnet." The 
var.ation of the compass at that time was thirteen degrees to the 
west, so that by running by the compass without allowing for 
var.ation the tract is inclined in a northwesterly and southeast- 
erly direction. The record of Mr. Turner's survey establishes 
for all coming time the location of the old Indian Portage, or 
carrying place, from the Baskahegan Stream to the Grand Lake. 
This portage commenced at the point where the south line of the 
Hampden Academy Grant crossed the Baskahegan and contin- 
ued in a northeasterly direction until it struck the Grand Lake. 
Eastward of the Academy Grant and between the east line of 
that grant and the irregular coast line of the Grand Lake (then 
called Scoodic Lake) is a tract of nearly six thousand acres,, 
known as the Monroe Gore. Between the south line of the 
Academy Grant and the north line of the half township granted 
to Thomas Danforth (now the town of Danforth) is a strip 
147 rods wide, a part of which is known as the Nelson tract.. 
As these two tracts are included in the present town of Weston„ 
it is proper to insert their documentary history at this point. 

On the 10th day of July, 1830, the Land Agent of the State 
of Maine contracted to Edmund Monroe a tract of land in the 
County of Washington, situated between the Hampden Acad- 
emy Grant and "Scoodic Lake" and containing 5892 acres. Mr. 
Monroe paid $301.00 down and gave four notes, bearing date 
of May 17th, 1830, and payable in one, two, three and six 
years respectively, each note being for $293.00, with interest 
annually. This tract was deeded by the Land Agent on May 
14, 1835, to James Crosby of Bangor and Deodat Brastow of 
Brewer, assignees of Edmund Monroe, and has since been 
known as the "Monroe Gore." 

By a resolve passed by the Legislature of Massachusett> 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 33 

Feb. 19, 1802, a grant of five hundred acres of land was made 
to Amasa Smith. This tract was not located until Sept. 1820, 
when it was surveyed by Alexander Greenwood, and on Nov. 
18, 1820, it was deeded by Geo. W. Coffin, Land Agent of 
Mass., to David Nelson, of New Gloucester, assignee of Amasa 
Smith. The tract is thus described by the record of Mr. 
Greenwood's survey: 

"Beginning at a white maple tree, the same being the south- 
west corner of the grant to Hampden Academy, marked S. W. 

C. H. A. A. G. 1820, D. N., thence running south one hundred 
and forty-seven rods to a beech (sic) tree standing on the north 
line of the half township granted to Thomas Danforth, Esq., 
marked G. 1820, D. N., thence running east on the line of said 
grant to Thomas Danforth five hundred and forty-four rods and 
eleven links to a yellow birch tree marked G. 1820 D. N. A. G. 
J. G. I. F., thence running north one hundred and forty-seven 
rods and eleven links to a yellow birch tree standing in the 
south line of the grant to Hampden Academy marked G. 1820, 

D. N. A. G. J. G. I. F., thence on said Academy line five hundred 
and forty-four rods and eleven links to the bound first men- 
tioned." 

David Nelson conveyed the tract to Mr. Joseph L. Kelsey 
of Bangor, by his deed dated April 25, 1835. The land has since 
been sold to settlers and, though now a part of the town of Wes- 
ton, is still known as the "Nelson Tract." 

The first settlers upon the Hampden Academy grant were 
John Davenport, Thomas GJlpatrick and William Butterfield, 
Esq. Of these, Mr. Davenport was the first to make a chop- 
ping, and Mr. Gilpatrick was the first settler who brought a 
family to the grant. John Davenport came from St. Albans 
and settled on the lot where Joshua Butler nov/ lives, a short 
distance south of the middle line of the town. He cleared a 
farm and built a set of buildings and was for many years a re- 
spected citizen of the town. He died in Weston some twenty 
years ago. Thomas Gilpatrick came from Unity in 1825. He 
purchased of the trustees of the academy one thousand acres of 
land for twenty-five cents per acre. Mr. Davenport had made 
a chopping the year before and this chopping Mr. Gilpatrick 
cleared and put into crop at the halves. He afterwards settled 
near where Mr. Otis A. Gilpatrick now lives, where he built a 
log house and in 1827 his wife and son David came to their 
rew home. Mr. Gilpatrick lived on this place some six years, 
when he moved to a timber house at the foot of the hill some 



34 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

distance north of where the old homestead now stands. Mr. 
WJHam Philbrook had made a ten acre chopping on the place 
and built a timber house. The family lived in this house till 
about 1841, when Mr. Gilpatrick built the buildings on the top 
of the hill, now known as the Gilpatrick homestead. He cleared 
a number of large farms and was extensively engaged in farm- 
ing and lumbering. His house was for years a stopping place 
for travellers and was a place well known in all that section. 
He afterward bought the William Butterfield farm, some dis- 
tance farther north, upon which he lived until his death in 1876. 
Mr. Gilpatrick was a prominent man in the town during the 
whole time of his residence there, at times doing a large busi- 
ness and be!r.g actively interested in the affairs of the town. 
Mr. William Butterfield, known throughout southern Aroostook 
for many years as "Squire Butterfield," was born in the town of 
Sidney and removed from there to New Brunswick, where he 
remained a number of years. He came to Weston about 1827 
and settled on the lot now occupied by Mr. Ruel Peters, oppo- 
site the old steamboat landing. Mr. Butterfield was a land sur- 
veyor and in 1828 he lotted the Academy grant, dividing it into 
lots, or sections, running east and west across the grant, each 
lot containing five hundred acres more or less. The lot upon 
which Mr. Butterfield settled was numbered six in this survey. 
This lot was deeded by Josiah Kidder, secretary of the trustees 
of Hampden Academy, to Charles Buck of Bangor, April 12, 
1831, and was conveyed by Mr. Buck to William Butterfield by 
deed dated August 25, 1835. Mr. Butterfield was appointed 
justice of the peace soon after coming to Weston, and the rec- 
ords show that he performed marriages there as early as 1832. 
He cleared a large farm on this lot and built the homestead 
where he lived for many years. He was extensively engaged 
in trading and lumbering and was a leading citizen of the town 
during all the time of his residence there. He moved to Dan- 
forth some twenty years ago and died in that town. 

Mr. Samuel Cleaves was one of the early settlers of the 
town. He came from Clinton in 1827 and settled in the south 
part of the town near Baskahegan stream. Mr. Cleaves went 
from Weston to California, but afterwards returned to Haynes- 
ville, where he died. 

Mr. Joseph Foss came from Clinton in 1828 and settled on 
the lot where Mr. Edward Earle now lives, being section 8 of 
the Butterfield survey. Mr. Foss purchased of the Academy 
trustees four lots, or sections of land, being lots numbered Eight, 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 35 

Nine, Ten and Eighteen, and afterwards bought of the town lot 
No. Seventeen, which was the school block. Mr. Foss cleared 
a large farm and was also largely engaged in lumbering. He 
w,as a prominent citizen and business man for more than twenty 
years, when he removed to California and afterwards to Wis- 
consin, where he died. 

Mr. Samuel Springer came from Augusta in 1829 and set- 
tled on the lot in the south part of the town, afterwards owned 
by Samuel J. Foster. Mr. Springer cleared the farm and lived 
upon it until about 1847, when he sold to Mr. Foster and moved 
to Robbinston and afterwards to Danforth, where he died. Mr. 
Stutely Springer was a well known citizen of Weston for many 
years. He came from Augusta in 1830 and settled some dis- 
tance west of his brother Samuel on the lot now occupied by 
Mr. Charles Powers. He died in Weston in 1869. Mr. John 
Springer, another brother, came from Augusta in 1832 and set- 
tled on the lot where D. J. Barker, Esq., now lives, in the ex- 
treme southern portion of the town. Mr. Springer cleared this 
farm and built the buildings upon it. He was engaged also in 
lumbering and in 1868 moved to Eaton in Washington County, 
where he died in 1883. 

Mr. William Gellerson came from Br'ghton in 1832 and set- 
tled in the northwest part of the town. He had a mill on Cold 
Brook near his farm, and was engaged in farming and lumber- 
ing for many years. He died in Weston some thirty years ago. 
Mr. Thomas Gellerson came at the same time and settled near 
his brother William. He was also engaged in lumbering, and 
was a well known citizen. He died at his home ten years ago. 
Mr. George Gellerson, another brother, came at the same time 
and settled near the others and this portion of the town has 
ever since been known as the "Gellerson Settlement." Mr. Geo. 
Gellerson cleared a good farm and was also for some years en- 
gaged in lumbering. He afterwards became a Free Baptist 
preacher and preached for many years in Weston and adjoining 
towns. Some twenty years ago he moved to Houlton, where he 
died in 1881. Elder Gellerson was a good man and was much 
respected by all who knew him. 

Mr. Isaac Loveland came from Brighton in 1832 and first 
settled in the south part of the town. He afterwards bought a 
lot in the Gellerson settlement, where he" cleared a farm and 
bu'lt a house and barn. After remaining there a number of 
years he removed to Orono, where he died. 

Mr. Elijah Gove came from Waldo County in 1832 and set- 



36 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

tied in the rear of Thos. Gilpatrick's farm, where he died many 
years ago. During this year (1832) a number of settlers came 
to the town, most of whom have now passed away. Mr. Joseph 
Webber came from Clinton and settled on part of the Joseph 
Foss lot, the original five hundred acre lots into which the town 
was divided by the Butterfield survey having afterwards sub- 
divided into smaller holdings. Mr. Webber made a small clear- 
ing and built a log house and after remaining some ten years re- 
turned to Clinton. Mr. Ira Watson came from New Hampshire 
in 1832 and settled in the northern part of the town, where he 
cleared a farm and built a set of log buildings, and died many 
years ago. Mr. Hezekiah Harris, who is now the oldest settler 
living in the town, came from New Brunswick in 1832 and set- 
tled on the lot where he now lives, in the north part of the tovv^n. 
Mr. Harris cleared a large farm and kept a house of entertain- 
ment for travellers for many years. Though now advanced in 
years and past work, Mr. Harris is still quite active and enjoys 
walking around among his neighbors and talking about the olden 
times when there were no roads in the town and when the early 
settlers were subjected to many hardships. Mr. Braman Price, 
a son-in-law of Mr. Harris, now carries on the farm. 

Mr. James Brackelt, one of the early settlers of the town, 
came from Mount Vernon in 1830 and settled near the middle of 
the town. He cleared the farm and lived on it until his death 
in 1845. His son, William Brackett, then took the farm and 
lived on it until his death in 1855. His widow afterwards kept 
a public house here for many years and this was long one of 
the pleasantest and best known stopping places upon the Calais 
road. Mrs. Brackett died in 1873 and her sons, Horace M. and 
Gilbert L. Brackett, now live on the old homestead. Mr. Luther 
Brackett was also for some time a resident of Weston and lived 
on the farm where Mr. George Brannan now lives, part of section 
12. Mr. Brackett was afterwards appointed U. S. Consul to 
Pictou and did not return to Weston to live. 

Dr. Joseph 0. Smith came from Addison in 1833 and with 
his son, Mr. B. C. Smith, settled on the farm where Mr. James 
Moody now lives, part of section 11. Dr. Smith was an educated 
gentleman of pleasant and kindly manner, and is spoken of with 
much respect by those of the citizens who remember him. He 
practiced his profession for some time after coming to Weston. 
Mr. Barney C. Smith, as his name appears upon the records of 
the town, had the active management of the farm and also car- 
ried on the business of blacksmithing. He, like most of his 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 37 

neighbors at that time, was engaged in lumbering and was a 
prominent citizen of the town. He moved to Hodgdon about 
1850, and his father. Dr. J. O. Smith, afterwards returned to 
Addison. Mr. Stephen Smith, son of Dr. Smith, came to Wes- 
ton at the same time and settled on the next lot south. He was 
engaged in farming and lumbering for many years, and some 
six years ago moved to Houlton, where he now resides. 

Mr. Joseph E. Shorey was a resident of Weston at this time 
and was engaged in lumbering. He had no farm in the town 
and soon after settled in the adjoining town of Bancroft. Mr. 
Sweet Ellis came from Brighton in 1833 and settled in the north- 
west part of the town. Here he cleared a small farm and af- 
terwards moved to Haynesville and died many years ago. Mr. 
Charles Megquier came from Poland in 1833 and settled a 
short distance north of Mr. James Brackett, on part of section 
13. Mr. Megquier commenced felling trees on his lot on June 
17, 1834, as appears by a diary kept by him at that time. He 
that year felled and cleared twenty-three acres and finished 
clearing Nov. 1st. In the spring of 1835 he commenced work 
on the farm April 1st. He that year sowed five bushels of 
wheat on five acres and raised 166 2-3 bushels of prime wheat. 
Mr. Megquier was then absent from the town for a number of 
years, returning in 1839. He extended his clearing and built a 
good set of buildings and continued to live upon his farm until 
his death, six years ago. He was a man of strict integrity and 
was one of the most prominent citizens of the town. He was 
postmaster at Weston for many years and held numerous town 
offices. His son, Arthur Megquier, now lives upon the farm 
and has a store nearby. Mr. Samuel F. Marble came from 
Poland in 1833 and settled on the lot next north of Mr. Meg- 
quier's. He cleared this farm and lived on it until his death 
some eleven years ago. Mr. Marble was a highly respected 
citizen and took an active part in the affairs of the town. His 
son, Greenleaf Marble, now lives on the old farm. 

Mr. Thomas Pratt came from Clinton in 1833 and settled 
in the northwest part of the town. Here he cleared a good 
farm and built a good set of buildings. He lived upon the farm 
until his death some ten years ago. He is spoken of as a good 
cit'zen and a worthy man. Mr. Lewis Smart, who is now one 
of the oldest settlers living in the town, came from Vassalboro 
to Old Town in 1831 and in 1834 came to Weston and first took 
a lot rear the middle of the town, where he made a small clear- 
ing and then took the lot in the north part of the town now 



38 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

known as the Faulkner farm, and made a shopping and built 
a log house, but did not remain upon the lot. He then took a 
lot on Trout Brook ridge in the west part of the town, where 
he cleared a good farm and built good buildings. In 1848 he 
nioved to the farm on the Calais road where he has lived ever 
since. Mr. Smart was for many years an active citizen of the 
town, but is now advanced in years and quite infirm. His sons, 
Frank and Charles Smart, live in neat residences near him on 
the old farm. 

Mr. Patrick Faulkner came from Ireland and settled in 
Weston in 1835, in the rear of Mr. Hezekiel Harris's lot. Here 
he made a good farm upon which he lived until his death some 
ten years ago. 

^ Among the other citizens who were in the town at the time 
of its incorporation we may name the following: Mr. Joel Foss, 
son of Joseph Foss, came from Lincoln in 1831, but did not set- 
tle upon a farm in the town until 1840, when he took the lot 
upon which Mr. J. C. Foss now lives, part of section 8. He 
cleared this farm and lived on it ten years and then moved to 
the farm on which Mr. Charles Clark now lives, where he lived 
until 1872, when he moved to Danforth and now keeps a public 
house in that village. Mr. Foss was a prominent citizen of 
Weston and well known throughout the county. He was for 
many years engaged in land surveying and was a member of the 
board of county commiss'orers from 1858 to 1861. He was also 
a member of the State Legislature in 1852 and for the two fol- 
lowing years and again in 1881. Mr. Orrington S. Foss lived 
with his father, Joseph Foss, and afterwards moved to Orono, 
where he died. Mr. William Butterfield, Jr., settled on the lot 
where his son, David Butterfield, now lives, and lived there 
until his death some three years ago. Mr. Samuel Butterfield 
first settled on the farm v/here David Butterfield now lives. He 
afterward moved to the farm now owned by Mrs. Benj. Moody, 
section 9. He sold this farm to Mr. Moody and moved to Jack- 
son Brook, where he now lives. 

We have thus briefly mentioned the settlers who opened 
up the town of Weston and a large majority of whom were citi- 
zens of the town at the time ofits incorporation. 

The act of incorporation was passed March 16, 1835, and 
was signed by Gov. Dunlap on the following day. On April 
14, 1835, a petition was addressed to Wm. Butterfield, Esc. a 
justice of the peace, to issue a warrant for a town meeting. This 
petition was signed by Samuel Springer, Stutely Springer, John 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 39 

Davenport, Joseph Foss, Orrington S. Foss, Thos. Gilpatrick 
and John Springer. The warrant was issued to Mr. John 
Springer, who was directed to call a town meeting at the dwell- 
ing house of Joseph O. Smith on Thursday, April 30, 1835. The 
inhabitants met according to the warrant, were called to order 
by Wm. Butterfield, Esq., adjourned to Dr. Smith's barn and 
chose the following officers, viz: Joseph E. Shorey, moderator; 
0. S. Foss, clerk; Wm. Butterfield, Joseph Foss and Barney C. 
Smith, selectmen; Thos. Gilpatrick, collector and constable; 
Stephen Smith, treasurer. At the time of the organization of 
the town of Weston there were but two incorporated towns in 
the whole territory now embraced in Aroostook County, Houl- 
ton having been incorporated in 1831 and Hodgdon in 1832. 
At that time these ' towns were all in Washington County, 
Aroostook not being incorporated as a separate county until 
March 16, 1839. On the list of voters in Weston in 1836, 
twenty-five names appear and at the town meeting held that 
year it was voted "not to grant licenses for retailing ardent 
spirits." At that time and in fact for many years after, large 
lumbering operations were carried on in this vicinity and near- 
ly all the settlers of the town were more or less engaged in this 
business. Some who afterwards settled there and became prom- 
inent citizens were attracted thither by the opportunities offered 
for engaging in this pursuit. 

In 1844 Mr. Benjamin Buzzell came from Alexander and 
settled in the north part of the town. He cleared a farm and 
lived upon it for nearly forty years and moved to Danforth, 
where he died. Mr. Edward Bedel now lives on this farm. 

Mr. Samuel J. Foster came to Weston in 1847 and bought 
the Samuel Springer farm in the south part of the town. Mr, 
Foster was a member of the firm of Foster & Lincoln of Ban- 
gor, lumber operators. He made many improvements upon the 
farm and built a very large and costly residence, two large barns 
and a fine stable. The house was at the time one of the most 
expensive private residences north of Bangor. In the stables 
were stalls for a hundred horses and there were times when 
nearly all were filled. Mr. Foster owned some very fine driving 
horses and the fame of his roadsters and of their remarkable 
performances is still remembered in this section. In addition 
to h's extensive lumber operations he paid much attention to 
farming and raised large crops of hay and grain. He was a 
man of much energy and enterprise and carried on a large busi- 
ness in Weston and vicinity for a number of years. He lived 



40 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

upon the farm until his death in 1858. The farm was then pur- 
chased by Mr. John Weller and Mr. William Lawrence, who 
opened the house as a hotel and did a large business in farming 
and raising and dealing in horses. This partnership was dis- 
solved after a few years and Mr. Lawrence moved to Houlton. 
Mr. Weller afterwards disposed of his interest in the property 
and now resides in Danforth. The Foster mansion was burned 
some ten years ago and the large farm has been divided. Mr. 
E. L. Heal now owns one portion and Mr. Weston Brannan the 
other. 

In 1855 the "Monroe Gore" and the "Nelson tract" were 
both incorporated with the town of Weston and the town is now 
bounded north by Haynesville and Orient, west by Bancroft, 
south by Danforth, in Washington County, and on the east for 
its entire extent by the waters of the beautiful Grand Lake. The 
road from Houlton to Calais runs in a southerly direction en- 
tirely across the town and for much of the distance the land 
west of the road rises in high, mountainous ridges. In the north 
part of the town, a short distance east of the Calais road, is 
Longfellow Lake, a very pretty little sheet of water discharg- 
ing into Brackett Lake, which is of much larger extent and 
which empties its waters through a narrow thoroughfare into the 
Grand Lake. In the south part of the town is a smaller lake, 
called Sucker Brook Lake, the outlet of which is a small brook 
flowing northward and emptying into the Grand Lake at Dav- 
enport Cove. The scenery from the Calais road is very beau- 
tiful in a pleasant summer's day, the view extending across the 
wooded points and away to the broad waters of Grand Lake. 



AMITY 



The town of Amity is the northernmost of what may be pro- 
perly designated as the coast towns of Aroostook County, as, in 
common with the towns lying south of it in the same range, it 
is separated from the possessions of Her Brittannic Majesty by 
a water boundary. The coast line of the State of Maine, on its 
eastern border, in reality extends northward nearly to the north 
line of the town of Amitv and for the past two years a detach- 
ment of the U. S. Coast Survey has been at work in this region, 
determ^ining the exact contour of the eastern coast and making 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 41 

an accurate map of this boundary. The Monument Stream 
which forms the head waters of the St. Croix, rises about a mile 
south of the north line of Amity, and, flowing southward in an 
irregular course, forms the eastern boundary of the United 
States until it discharges its waters into North Lake in the town 
of Orient. Amity lies directly south of Gary, is bounded on the 
west by Haynesville and on the south by Orient. 

The settlement of the town dates back to the year 1825 
and in that year Jonathan Clifford, who may be regarded as 
the pioneer settler of the town, commenced a clearing on the lot 
now occupied by Mr. James Lizette, in the north part of the 
town, a short distance west of the present Calais road. Here 
Mr. Clifford cleared a farm, upon which he lived for many 
years and on which he died some twenty years ago. At the 
time of Mr. Clifford's settlement a few pioneers had established 
themselves upon the adjoining township of No. 11, now Cary, 
and their smokes could be seen from the ridge upon which he 
commenced his clearing. These were his nearest neighbors and 
no road passable in summer led to his wilderness home. In 
1826, Mr. Edmund Cone took a lot near Mr. Clifford's and com- 
menced making a clearing. Mr. Cone came from New Salem, 
Mass., to Houlton in 1815 and lived in that town until he re- 
moved to his new home in what was then called No. 10, now 
the town of Amity. 

In Houlton Mr. Cone was employed for a number of years 
as a teamster, and he afterwards made a clearing on the lot in 
the south part of that town near the Hodgdon line, now owned 
by Mr. A. K. Bradford. Before leaving Houlton Mr. Cone mar- 
ried Miss Barbara Shepard of Richmond, N. B., and together 
they bravely commenced the work of making a home in the for- 
est. Mrs. Cone was a most excellent woman and was a cour- 
ageous and efficient helpmate in these pioneer years. Mr. Cone 
cleared up a large farm and was for many years a prominent 
citizen of the town. He was one of the officers of the town at 
its first organization, and continued to take an active interest in 
its affairs until his death in 1883. His son, Mr. Elisha Cone, 
now owns the old homestead, but lives upon a farm on the 
Calais road. 

Mr. Seth Farrar was one of the earliest settlers of the town. 
Mr. Farrar came from Searsmont and settled in New Brunswick. 
He then emigrated to the south part of Hodgdon, and made a 
clearing on the lot afterwards owned by Daniel Smith. In 1826 
he moved to Amity and took a lot in the north part of the town. 



is? HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

a short distance east of the present Calais road. Here he made 
a farm upon which he lived for some twenty-five years, then 
moved to No. 11 (Gary) and afterwards to Orient, where he 
died some thirty years ago. A number of his sons now live in 
the south part of the town.. 

In 1826 Jonah Dunn, Esq., came from Cornish, in York 
County, and established his residence in Houlton. Mr. Dunn 
was a man well educated and of much ability and force of char- 
acter. He had represented the District of Maine in the General 
Court of Massachusetts, and after the separation from the 
mother state was a member of the Maine Legislature. He took 
an active part in the movement for the establishment of a mili- 
tary post at Houlton, and was instrumental in having the mili- 
tary road opened to that place and with his son, Columbus 
Dunn, built a part of that road. He was also a contractor and 
builder of portions of the road from Houlton to Calais. Imme- 
d'ately upon coming to Houlton, in 1826, Esquire Dunn pur- 
chased of the State a block of land in No. 10, now Amity, con- 
sisting of four lots of 100 acres each, and including the Colum- 
bus Dunn homestead and the Walton lot on the east side of the 
Calais road, and the John Reed lot and Charles E. Dunn lot on. 
the west side. In 1827, Columbus Dunn, a son of Jonah Dunn, 
Esq., settled on the block. At that time the only road was a 
lumber road from Houlton, through Hodgdon and Gary, pass- 
able for teams only in the winter time. Here Mr. Columbus 
Dunn cleared a farm and established the home where he lived 
until his death in 1879. Deacon Dunn was for many years one 
of the most prominent citizens of the town and was one of its 
active religious workers. He was postmaster of Amity for 18 
years and held numerous town offices. His widow still lives at 
the old home with her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. Erastus 
Haskell, who now has the farm. Mr. Charles Dunn, brother of 
Columbus, came soon after and settled on the lot next south, 
afterwards the Walton homestead. Mr. Dunn remained there 
some twelve years and was one of the selectmen of the town in 
the first year of its organization. He afterwards returned to 
Houlton, where he now resides. 

Soon after the arrival of the Dunns a number of settlers 
came to the town and commenced making clearings in the forest. 
Mr. Asa Tracy came from Gouldsboro in 1827 and made a chop- 
ping on the lot in the rear of the Lemuel Tracy homestead. He 
moved his family to the town in 1829 and afterwards bought 
the lot where his son, Samuel Tracy, now lives, and remained 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 4S 

there until his death in 1870. During the following year (1828) 
Jonathan Greenleaf, Samuel Newman, Benjamin Winship, Wil- 
liam Clark and James H. Curtis settled in the new town. Mr. 
Jonathan Greenleaf, for many years a well known citizen of 
Amity, came from the town of Starks and settled in the south 
part of the town. He cleared a farm and kept a hotel here for 
■many years. He was a man of much business ability and took 
an active part in the affairs of the town. Mr. Greenleaf died in 
1868. The old house, so long a stopping place for travellers, 
"has since been burned, but two sons, Thomas and John Green- 
leaf, still live on the farm. Mr. Samuel Newman came from 
Sangerville and made a clearing some distance north of Mr. 
Greenleaf's. He was chosen one of the selectmen at the organ- 
ization of the town. He left Amity many years ago and after 
living for a time in Orient and afterwards in Haynesville, re- 
turned to Sangerville and died. 

Benjamin Winship first settled on the lot opposite the Jacob 
Simpson lot, where he lived for a number of years and then re- 
moved to the south part of the town and died many years ago. 

William Clark came from Liberty and settled on the lot 
where his son, William Clark, now lives. He cleared this farm 
and lived on it until his death in 1854. His son, David Clark, 
then took the farm and at his death in 1858 Mr. William Clark, 
the present proprietor, took possession of the farm. 

Mr. James H. Curtis came from Dexter and settled on the 
lot where Mr. Samuel Tracy now lives. He made a clearing 
on this lot and built a log house and barn and after living there 
some six years moved to what was afterwards known as the 
Walker place. Here he built a set of buildings. Mr. Curtis 
lived on this farm until 1846, when he sold to Mr. Erastus Has- 
kell and moved to New Brunswick. 

Mr. Samuel Wilkins was also one of the early settlers of 
the towm. He settled in the north part, a short distance east of 
the Calais road, and lived in the town until his death in 1867. 

A few years later than the settlers mentioned above, Mr. 
William Williams, who was then living in Houlton, bought four 
lots a short distance south of the center of the town. These 
lots included the two lots now owned by Mr. John R. Williams, 
the Benj. Curtis lot, and the Calvin Curtis lot. Mr. Williams 
made a clearing on the lot now owned by Benjamin Curtis, 
where he built a log house and lived upon the place a few years 
when he removed to Houlton and did not return to Amity to live. 
His son, Jared Williams, made a clearing on the lot where Mr. 



44 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

John R. Williams now lives and remained three years and sold 
to Mr. George Robinson. Mr. John R. Williams bought the 
farm in 1838 and has been a well known citizen of Amity ever 
s nee. Mansfield Williams, another son, lived on the Curtis 
place and traded at the "corner" near Mr. Greenleaf's. He 
afterwards moved to Houlton and died there some years ago. 
Abram Williams also lived on this place for a time and moved 
to Houlton and afterward to Hodgdon, where he had a farm 
near the Mills and where he died a few years since. 

Rev. Elisha Bedel, the first clergyman, settled in Amity, 
came from the town of Crawford and organized the first church 
in the town. At the first town meeting Elder Bedel was chosen 
one of the selectmen. He remained in Amity until about 1845. 

The act of incorporation of the town of Amity was passed 
March 18, 1836, and was approved by Gov. Robt. P. Dunlap on 
the day following. The warrant for the first town meeting was 
issued by Hiram Estey, Esq., justice of the peace, to Edmund 
Cone, April 11, 1836. The meeting was held April 21st and the 
new town was organized by the choice of Columbus Dunn, mod- 
erator, Edmund Cone, clerk, and Edmund Cone, Elisha Bedel 
and Samuel Newman, selectmen. James H. Curtis was chosen 
treasurer and Asa Tracy, collector and constable. 

At the first State election after the incorporation, fifteen 
votes were thrown in the town, all of which were for Governor 
Dunlap. The year 1837 was an extremely hard year for the new 
settlers and bread was scarce. By the town records it appears 
that Messrs. Todd and McAllister of Calais owed the town for 
the stumpage on lumber cut on the school lots. This money 
should, of course, have been devoted to the support of schools, 
but so great was the destitution that at a meeting held on June 
5, 1837, it was voted to divide the amount equally among the in- 
habitants. It was afterwards decided to expend the gross 
amount for corn and divide the corn among the settlers. Teams 
were therefore sent to Calais and the corn was procured and di- 
vided among the hungry settlers. 

In 1836 Benjamin A. Curtis came from Dexter and first set- 
tled on the lot where Daniel Williams now lives. Here he made 
a small clearing, but soon moved to the lot on which John Reed 
now lives. He cleared a number of acres on this lot and lived 
on it some ten years. He then moved to the Alexander Carr 
lot where he lived until 1858, when he bought of Mansfield Wil- 
liams the lot where he now lives in the south part of the town. 
Mr. Curtis improved this farm and built a new house. He lost 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOlC 45 

'three sons in the army and is now old and feeble and unable 
to work. 

Mr. Daniel Harmon came from Calais to Amity in 1837 and 
taught the town school. He bought a piece of land of Columbus 
Dunn and lived in the town some six years and moved to Port- 
land. Mr. Harmon was an educated man and was clerk of the 
town for a number of years. James Austin and Jonathan Small 
came from Keneebec County about 1835 and settled on the lot 
"where Alexander Carr now lives. Mr. Small died shortly after- 
wards and Mr. Austin moved to No. 11 and afterwards returned 
to the southeast part of Amity, where he died. John Dakin 
came from Nova Scotia and in 1836 settled on a part of the 
Walker lot, where he cleared a farm and built a set of build- 
ings. He afterwards sold to Mr. James H. Curtis and moved 
to the west part of the town, where he died some years ago. 
Mr. Hartley Deering came from Orient in 1836 and bought the 
Samuel Newman lot. He lived on this lot two years and then 
exchanged farms with Mr. James Daggett of Hodgdon and 
moved to that town, where he died. Mr. Seth Kempton came 
from Milltown in 1837 and settled on the lot afterwards owned 
by Mr. Alden Spurr. He lived on this lot until 1848, when he 
removed to Gardiner. Mr. Peter Beede came from Milltown in 
1837 and settled on the lot next east of Seth Kempton. He 
lived on the farm until 1848, when he moved to Kennebec Coun- 
ty, and died. Mr. Samuel Slipp now owns this farm. 

Mr. Daniel Williams came to Amity in 1838. He had been 
engaged in teaching in Pennsylvania, and upon first coming to 
Amity was employed as a clerk for Mr. Daniel Wood, who had 
a store near Mr. Greenleaf's. In 1840, Mr. Williams bought the 
lot where he now lives and where he has made a good farm and 
a pleasant home. He has been a prominent man in the town 
for many years, and though now eighty years old, is still smart 
and active. 

Mr. Israel Davis came from Concord, N. H., about the 
time the town was incorporated or very soon after. He took a 
lot in the northwest part of the town. The Davis brook, a trib- 
utary of the Meduxnekeag, runs through this lot and on this 
stream Mr. Davis built a mill containing an up-and-down saw. 
After his death in 1868, his son, Mr. Elbridge G. Davis, took 
the property and added a grist mill and afterwards a shingle 
mill. This mill was afterwards burned and Mr. Davis built a 
new mill with steam power, into which he put one shingle ma- 
chine and was planning to put in a rotary saw, but died in 1888 



46 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

before completing his designs. The mill has not since been oper- 
ated and the engine and machinery have been removed. 

James Daggett, Jr., came 'from Hodgdon in 1838 and bought- 
of Hartley Deenng the Samuel Newman lot. He cleared a large 
farm and lived on it until 1866. He then moved to Oakfield 
and afterwards to Massachusetts. After a few years he re- 
turned to Amity and lived with his son, Mr. Warren Daggett, 
until his death in 1885. Mr. Samuel Shepard came from New 
Brunswick about 1837, and after living for a while on a part 
of Edmund Cone's lot, bought of Charles Dunn the lot next 
north of Columbus Dunn's. He built the buildings on this 
farm and about 1844 sold to James Ballard and moved to the 
Gidr.ey lot in the southwest part of the town, where he lived a 
number of years, and then returned to New Brunswick. James 
Ballard came from Massachusetts as a teacher. He bought the 
Samuel Shepard farm and lived on it some three years, and 
sold to Mr. Milo Walton and returned to Massachusetts. Mr. 
Hammond Estabrook came from New Brunswick in 1840 and 
took a lot in the west part of the town. He cleared a farm and 
lived on it until his death in 1864. His son, Mr. Jed Estabrook, 
now lives on the farm. Mr. Lemuel Tracey bought the lot where 
he now lives in 1842. He cleared a large farm and has for many 
years been one of the leading citizens of the town. Mr. Thomas 
Greenleaf, a brother to Jonathan Greenleaf, came from Starks 
in 1840 and took a lot in the south part of the town, one mile 
west from the Calais road. He made a clearing of forty acres 
and built a house and barn. He lived here six years and moved 
to Missouri. Mr. Warren Daggett now owns this farm. Mr. 
Milo Walton came from Chesterfield, N. H., to Houlton in 1845 
and kept a drug store in that town for two years. In 1847 he 
moved to Amity and bought the farm next north of Columbus 
Dunn. He immediately entered into the business of orcharding 
and fruit raising, which he planned to carry out on a large scale 
He set extensive nurseries of apples, plums, cherries, etc., and 
had also a large amount of small fruits. He had just com- 
menced to reap the first fruits of his enterprise when his death 
in 1854 suddenly terminated what promised to be a most suc- 
cessful business career. He was a man of much ability and 
worth and his early death was a severe loss to the town where 
he had fixed his residence. His widow continued the business 
to some extent until her death in 1871. His son, Mr. Isaac T. 
Walton, now has the farm. Mr. Alden Spurr came from New 
Brunswick in 1848 and bought the Seth Kempton lot in the south- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 47 

^est part of the town. He cleared a large 'farm and built a good 
set of buildings. Mr. Spurr was engaged in lumbering and was 
an active and prominent citizen during his residence in the town. 
Two of his sons died in the army and some time after the close 
of the war he moved to Milltown and afterwards to Houlton, 
where he died a few years ago. Mr. Calvin B. Curtis bought 
the farm where he now lives in 1849. It was then a wild lot 
:and Mr. Curtis cleared the farm and built the buildings. He 
has also worked at blacksm'lthing a part of the time and has 
been one of the leading citizens for many years. Mr. Jacob 
Simpson came from Warwick, N. B., and was for several years 
■engaged in lumbering in this vicinity before moving to Amity. 
About 1850 he bought the farm where Mr. John Hughes now 
lives. He cleared a large farm and was extensively engaged in 
lumbering until about 1864, when he sold the farm to Mr. James 
Martin and returned to New Brunswick. 

Mr. George R. Burt came from New Hampshire in 1850 and 
bought the farm on which Mr. John Reed now lives. Here he 
opened a store and continued to trade until his death in 1856. 
Mr. James Lander, the veteran stage driver, then bought the 
place and established his home there. He continued to drive 
the stage from Houlton to Calais and Mr. Adrian Vandine, af- 
terwards collector of customs at Houlton, entered into partner- 
ship with him in trade. Mr. Vandine was engaged most of the 
time in hauling goods and Mr. John Reed was employed as clerk 
in the store. Mr. Lander died in 1861, and Mr. Vandine re- 
tained the property and business until 1866, when he sold to 
Mr. John Reed and removed to Houlton. Mr. Francis McCarric 
came from Bailyville in 1851 and first settled on the lot oppo- 
site Jacob Simpson's. He lived on this lot seven years and then 
moved to the farm In the north part of the town, formerly occu- 
pied by Benj. Curtis, where he lived until his death in 1874. 
Mr. Allex. H. Carr now has this farm. 

As a whole. Amity will rank as a good farming town. The 
surface is not abruptly broken and the soil, though somewhat 
stony in places, is fertile and productive. A large part of the 
town is still covered with its original forest growth and is owned 
by non-resident proprietors, a fact which has interfered with the 
growth and development of the town. The town has good 
schools and good religious privileges and seems to enjoy a gen- 
eral feeling of social good fellowship. Taken all in all. Amity 
will rank as one of the best towns in southern Aroostook. 



^g' HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

LINNEUS 



The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: 
on February 26th, 1804, passed a resolve appropriating a town- 
ship of land in the District of Maine for the purpose of assist- 
ing in establishing a Professorship of Botany in Harvard Col- 
lege. The township was surveyed by Benjamin Marshall in 
October, 1807, and is tljus described: "Beginning at a basswood 
stake near a large yellow birch marked N. E. C. B. G. T. O. 
one hundred and sixty rods south of the southwest corner of a 
half township of land granted to the New Salem Academy, 
thench running west, thirteen degrees north six miles to a large 
hemlock tree marked, thence south, thirteen degrees west six 
miles to a stake; thence east, thirteen degrees south six miles to 
a large maple tree, marked; thence north, thirteen degrees east 
to the first m.entioned basswood stake." At a meeting of the 
Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for promoting Agriculture, 
held June 4th, 1808, it was voted that the Secretary of the Com- 
monwealth be requested to deed the township to Dudley A. 
Tyng. The deed of the township from William Tudor, Secre- 
tary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to Dudley Atkins 
Tyng, is dated June 27th, 1808. 

At a meeting of the Trustees of the Massachusetts Society 
for promoting Agriculture held June 30th, 1810, it was voted that 
Dudley A. Tyng be authorized to convey the township in fee 
simple to Aaron Dexter and Ebenezer Preble, purchasers of the 
town, upon the purchase money being paid, or secured to the 
Treasurer of Harvard College. It was also voted that the pur- 
chasers be requested to cause the said township to be called by 
the name of Linneus. The deed from Dudley A. Tyng to Aaron 
Dexter, Doctor of Medicine, and Ebenezer Preble, merchant, 
both of Boston, is dated Aug. 9th, 1810. 

The town of Linneus lies in the second tier of townships 
from the New Brunswick line, is directly west of the town of 
Hodgdon, and corners on Houlton on the southwest. The early 
history of Linneus is intimately connected with that of the set- 
tlement of Houlton as the old Soldier road over which supplies 
were brought to the garrison at Houlton was made through this 
town. This road was cut through by the United States troops in 
1828. It began at what was called Soldier Landing on the east 
branch of the Mattawamkeag some two miles below the mouth 
of Beaver Brook, followed up the brook across the township of 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 49 

"Letter A" and after entering Linneus turned in a northeasterly 
direction from the height of land on which is now the J. D. Gove 
farm, following nearly the line of the present military road to 
where Hon. Parker P. Burleigh now lives, entering Houlton near 
the southwest corner of that town. 

The first settler upon the town was Mr. Daniel Neal who 
came from New Brunswick in 1827 and settled near the north- 
east corner of the town, on what is now a part of the farm of 
Hon. Parker P. Burleigh. We find mention of Mr. Neal in let- 
ters from Major Clarke, the officer in command of the garrison 
at Houlton to Capt. Staniford, who commanded the detachment 
engaged in constructing the Soldier road. In a letter dated 
Sept. 25th, 1828, Major Clarke writes: "As soon as the road shall 
have been completed to Neal's you will order the four six- 
pounders to that place and leave them there." On the same day 
Major Clarke writes to Mr. Towle, of the firm of Towle & Par- 
sons, who had the contract to forward the supplies for the troops : 
"As soon as all the public property deposited at Neal's shall 
have been brought in I request you to forward on those cannon." 

In these letters we find the first mention of any settlement 
in the present town of Linneus. Mr. Neal was a Maine man and 
went to New Brunswick to work at his trade as a ship carpenter, 
coming thence to his forest home in the new grant. Here he 
cleared up a considerable tract and lived upon it until 1836, when 
he removed to Jackson Brook. His son, John Hodgdon Neal, 
was the first child born in Linneus. 

Soon after Daniel Neal made his settlement in Linneus a 
man named Nesmith settled near the "Cold Spring," as it was 
then called, on what is now the Howard farm. Mr. Nesmith 
formerly lived near Thomaston, Me., and removed to Miririchi, 
where he was quite extensively engaged in lumbering. He 
afterwards met with heavy losses and the great fire in Mirimichi 
completed his financial ruin. He then decided to remove to the 
wilderness of Aroostook, and coming to Fredericton, N. B., he 
placed his wife and three children, together with some house- 
hold goods, upon a sled and started up the St. John River on the 
ice with a pair of horses. Before reaching Woodstock the team 
broke through the ice and his wife and one child were drowned. 
With the two remaining children, a boy of ten years and a daugh- 
ter then a young woman, he reached Woodstock, where he left 
the daughter and proceeded northward with the little boy. In 
company with a man by the name of Anderson, Mr. Nesmith 
came to Linneus and built a camp near the "Cold Spring." They 



50 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

made a clearing and remained a number of years and then sold 
their improvement to Col. Benj. Rackliffe and Nesmith removed 
to the far West, taking the little boy with him. The boy grew 
to manhood and when the State of Oregon was admitted to the 
Union he was chosen one of the first United States Senators 
from that State. 

The opening of the Soldier road induced other settlers to 
come to the town. In 1828 or 1829 Samuel and John Shields 
came from New Brunswick and settled east of the Soldier road 
near the line of Hodgdon, then Groton Academy Grant. Both 
cleared up farms upon which they lived for many years and 
died at an advanced age. Mr. Thos. 0. Shields, son of John 
Shields, and Mr. True B. Shields, son of Samuel Shields, now 
live upon the old homesteads and have good farms. The same 
year Mr. John Jones settled south of Samuel Shields on what is 
now the Geo. Starrett farm. These three were the first settlers 
east of the road. Among the settlers who came to the town soon 
after Mr. Neal and settled along the line of the new road was 
Col. Benj. Rackliffe, who came from Waldo County about 1829 
and settled on what is now the Howard farm, a short distance 
south of Linneus Corner. Col. Rackliffe was for years a prom- 
inent citizen of the town. He afterwards moved to Presque Isle, 
where he died some ten years ago. Jacob Martin came the same 
year and settled on the 'farm now occupied by Dr. Boyd. He 
was a resident of the town many years. 

In 1830 Col. Moses Burleigh came from the town of Paler- 
mo and bought of Daniel Neal a lot next south of the farm upon 
v;h'ch Hon. Parker P. Burleigh now lives. Col. Burleigh was 
a prominent man in the State before his removal to Linneus. 
He was a milit'a capta'n in 1812 and was called into the U. S. 
service ar.d was with his company at Belfast at the time the 
British entered the Penobscot to destroy the U. S. frigate Adams. 
He was a delegate to the convention held in 1816 at Brunswick 
in the District of Maine, to form a State Constitution in antici- 
pation of the separation from Massachusetts and in the same 
year was promoted to a lieutenant colonelcy in the Massachu- 
setts m'litia. Immed.^ately after removing to Linneus, Col. 
Burleigh was appointed to take the census of the northern part 
of Washington County, which then included the Aroostook set 
tlements. As the territory was then in dispute the Provincial 
warden endeavored to arrest him, but he eluded pursuit and com- 
pleted his work of census taking. In 1831 he was appointed 
assistant land agent and took an active part in expelling tres- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 51 

passers from lands in this visinity. He held the office of post- 
master for several years and was an active, energetic man and 
an upr'ght and honored citizen. He died at Linneus in 1860. 
His son, Parker P. Burleigh, was but seventeen years old when 
he came with his father to Linneus. He worked for his father 
and helped clear up the farm and build a home until he was of 
age, when, determining to acquire an education, he entered 
Hampden Academy and afterwards Hartford, (Conn.) grammar 
school. He paid especial attention to the study of land survey- 
ing and thoroughly fitted himself for that profession. Returning 
to Linneus, he took an active part in the affairs of the new town 
and held many offices in the tovra and county. He was State 
Land Agent from 1868 to 1875, and was for many years post- 
master at Linneus. He represented his town in the Legislature 
of 1856 — 57 and was twice elected senator from Aroostook 
County. Mr. Burleigh is now living on the old farm in Linneus, 
upon which he has made many improvements, and although 
nearly eighty years old, is a hale, hearty, active man. He owns 
large tracts of timber land in the county, to the care of which 
he devotes much of his time. He has two brothers, Moses C. 
and Samuel K. Burleigh, living near him. Hon. Albert A. Bur- 
leigh, his oldest son, was born in Linneus in 1841. He also fit- 
ted himself for the business of land surveying and in 1864 en- 
tered the army. He was wounded and taken prisoner and con- 
fined at Petersburg and Richmond. After his return from the 
army he took a farm in the town of Oakfield, adjoining Linneus, 
upon which he lived for a number of years. He was for many 
years a member of the board of county commissioners and is 
intimately acquainted with every portion of Aroostook County. 
He now resides at Houlton and is collector of customs for the 
Aroostook District. He is also President of the Bangor and 
Aroostook Railroad Company and is giving much of his time 
at present to the development of that enterprise. 

Hon. Edwin C. Burleigh, the younger son, was born in Lin- 
neus in 1843. He also enlisted in the army in 1864, but was re- 
jected on account of physical disability and entered the adjutant 
general's office as clerk. He was afterward twice elected assist- 
ant clerk of the House of Representatives and in 1880 was ap- 
pointed to a clerkship in the office of State Treasurer. He also 
held the office of State Land Agent for three years. He was elect- 
ed State Treasurer in 1885. which office he held until he resigned 
to accept the honored position of Governor of Maine, to which 
he was elected in 1888. He was re-elected in 1890 and is the 



52 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

present Chief Executive of the State of Maine. 

The act of incorporation of the town of Linneus was ap- 
proved by Governor Robert P. Dunlap on March 16, 1836. A 
petition from the citizens of the town was immediately after- 
ward presented to Moses Burley, (as the name was then spelled) 
one of the justices of the peace of the County of Washington, 
to call a town meeting to organize the new town. This pet tion 
was dated March 25th, 1836, and was signed by Benj. Rackliff, 
Parker P. Burley (sic) John C. Hamilton, Richard Hamilton, 
John M. Rackliff, George W. Webber, Henry Kitchen, John E. 
Raymond, Daniel Neal and Abner Craig. The meeting was held 
at Col. Burley's house and Moses Burley was chosen moderator, 
Parker P. Burley was elected town clerk, and Moses Burley, 
Jacob Martin and Benj. Rackliff, selectmen. 

The old records of the town are still preserved and are in 
a bold, plain handwriting and signed "Parker P. Burley, town 
clerk." Isaiah Morrison and Aaron Plummer were chosen fence 
viewers, Benj. Bither one of the highway surveyors, Parker P. 
Burley, treasurer and collector of taxes, and he with Ebenezer 
Collins and J. Fisher Howard were the first board of S. S. com- 
mittee. Isaiah Keith was chosen constable 'on condition that 
he do the business for the town without charge." On June 4th, 
1836, John Stevens impounded a dark red horse owned by James 
Files. The bill of expense for impounding and selling the horse 
was $3.65 1-2, and the horse was sold at "public vendue" by 
Constable Keith for $5.85. At the first election for representa- 
tive to the Legislature, 19 votes were cast; Jesse Gilman had 13 
votes and Hendrick W. Judkins had 6 votes. As the election in 
the district resulted in a tie vote, another election was held on 
Oct. 24th. This also resulted in a tie vote, and a third election 
was held on Nov. 14th, at which time H. W. Judkins of Houlton 
was elected. From these records we find that Hugh Alexander 
was town clerk in 1837 and that Jeremiah Trueworthy was that 
year chosen first selectman, but declined to serve. Stephen B. 
Pattee was a constable in 1838. On the old records we find the 
names of others of the old settlers of the town who were in 
active life during the first years of the settlement. Though un- 
able to give the exact dates of each man's coming to the town 
we have been able to trace quite accurately the place o'f their 
first settlement. 

Hugh Alexander was one of the army teamsters in 1828, 
when the supplies for the garrison at Houlton were hauled over 
the Beaver Brook road. He settled in Linneus about 1830, on 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 53 

the lot where Mr. John Taylor now lives, some two miles north 
ot Linneus Corner. When Daniel Neal moved to Jackson Brook 
in 1836, Mr. Alexander took his place and lived there some time 
and then took the Hamilton lot a short distance north of the Cor- 
ner. He lived on this farm for many years and was largely en- 
gaged in the lumbering business. His son, Benjamin Alexander, 
was for years a prominent business man at Linneus Corner, and 
also kept the Letter A. House for a number of years. He rep- 
resented his class in the Legislature and was much respected 
by his fellow citizens. He died at Linneus a few years ago. 

Abner Craig settled on the lot south of the Bither farm, 
where he lived for a number of years, then sold to Edmund 
Bickford and moved to Haynesville, then known as "The Forks." 
Isaiah Morrison settled on a lot on the east side of the military 
road, just north of the Corner. He was an active citizen of the 
town for many years. His son, Benjamin Morrison, afterwards 
lived and died upon the farm, and B. Decatur Morrison, a son 
of Benjamin, now has the old homestead. Joseph L. Morrison, 
son of Isaiah, settled east of the Corner, on what is now the 
county road to Hodgdon Mills. Aaron Plummer was the first 
blacksmith in the town and had a house and shop nearly oppo- 
site Mr. Burleigh's. Silas Varney also settled on that lot in 
1830. Jesse F. Howard settled on the lot opposite the J. D. 
Gove farm, where he lived a number of years and then moved 
to Brewer. Ebenezer Collins settled in the east part of the town 
soon after 1830, on the lot next south of John Jones and next to 
the Hodgdon line. Mr. Eben Collins, his son, now occupies the 
farm. Isaiah Keith settled on a lot north of the Bither place 
and on the east side of the road. He lived in the town for many 
years, then moved to Oakfield, where he died a few years at,'0. 
John Stevens was for many years a resident and worked at day 
labor for farmers. James Niles cleared up the farm now occu- 
pied by Mr. Charles H. Young. Jeremiah Trueworthy settled 
on the farm now occupied by William H. Howard. He sold to 
Daniel Howard in 1845 and moved to Houlton. He afterwards 
became a wealthy land owner and was a prominent citizen of 
Houlton. John C. Hamilton made a farm on the west side of 
the road north of the Corner, afterwards the Alexander farm, 
where he lived a number of years and then moved to Hangor. 
His brother, Richard Hamilton, lived with him. George W. 
Webber settled west of the Military road, on the farm now occu- 
pied by George Downs. Joseph H. Downs settled near him 
and these two were the first settlers in that part of the town. 



54 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Mr. Downs was killed by a falling tree. Mr. Webber lived in 
the town a long time, then moved to Sherman, where he still 
resides and has been engaged in trade for a number of years. 
All the above mentioned citizens were living in the town at 
the time of its organization in 1838. 

Benjamin Either came to Linneus from Bradford, Me., in 
1832, and settled on the lot where his son, James F. Either, now 
I'ves. Here he made a good farm and built a fine set of build- 
ings. Mr. Either was a framer of buildings and framed many 
houses and barns now standing in Linneus and adjoining towns. 
He was long a prominent citizen of the town. Four of his sons 
are now living on farms in Linneus and many of his descend- 
ants live in the town and vicinity. His youngest daughter is 
the wife of Hon. Edwin C. Burleigh, the present Governor of 
Maine. 

Nathaniel Goodhue came to Linneus about 1835 and took 
the lot on which J. D. Gove now lives. Mr. Daniel Cookson 
had made a small clearing on this lot before Mr. Goodhue 
bought it. Stephen E. Pattee married a daughter of Mr. Good- 
hue and lived with him in 1837. He afterward moved to Fort 
Fairfield, where he was engaged in business for many years. 

Other early settlers, though somewhat later than those men- 
tioned above, were Joshua Merrill, who settled west of the Mili- 
tary road on the lot now a part of the David Tozier farm, and 
Henry Taylor, who lived on a lot adjoining the Eyrom farm and 
sold to Jackson Carson, who lived on the farm until two years 
ago, when he moved to the West. Col. Thomas Nickerson set- 
tled about 1843, on a farm a mile west of the Military road. 
Col. Benj. Rackliff had made a clearing on this lot and sold to 
Col. Nickerson who made a large farm and lived here for many 
years. He was a prominet citizen of the town, and had a large 
family. His son, E. S. F. Nickerson, settled on what is now the 
Tozier farm, where he cleared up a large farm upon which he 
lived for many years and then moved to Houlton. He has 
since engaged in starch manufacture in Minnesota and is now 
living in California. After Col. Nickerson's death his son, 
Frank C. Nickerson, took the farm and carried it on until 1881, 
when he sold it to Mr. B. F. Bliss and moved to Houlton. He 
was Deputy Collector of Customs for a number of years and 
afterwards engaged in trade. He is now liv'ng in Minnesota. 

David Eyrom was an early settler in the west part of the 
town. He made a fine farm two miles west from the Corner, 
upon which he lived until his death some six years ago. His 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 55 

son, George Byrom, now occupies the farm, Wallace Fenlason 
settled about 1845 about a mile west from Mr. Burleigh's and 
has lived there ever since. Mr. Daniel Howard came to Linneus 
in 1845 and bought of Jeremiah Trueworthy the farm on which 
he lived for many years and where he died in 1863. Mr. Howard 
made the first clearing in Letter A. Plantation, on the lot where 
the Letter A. House now stands. He improved the farm in Lin- 
neus and buJt a large house in which he kept hotel until his 
death. His son, William H. Howard, succeeded him and con- 
tinued to keep the hotel and carry on the farm, though he has 
recently discontinued the hotel business. Mr. W. H. Howard 
has improved the farm and built a large barn and stable and 
has now one of the best farms in the town. Among the earlier 
settlers is Mr. James Ruth, who came from Ireland and settled 
in Linneus in 1835. He first took the lot where John Thompson 
now lives, near the south line of the town, but soon moved to 
the lot two miles farther north, where he now lives. This farm 
he cleared from the forest and made a comfortable home. He 
is now somewhat out of health and his son, Samuel S. Ruth, 
carries on the farm. Daniel McMullen also came from Ireland 
about the same time and settled on a lot a little more than a 
mille south of the corner, where he cleared up a good farm. 
He died in 1879 and his son, John H. McMullen, now occupies 
the farm. Mr. Jesse Blunt was for many years one of the act- 
ive citizens of Linneus. He settled on a lot a short distance south 
of the Corner, on the west side of the road and was engaged 
in lumber'ng quite extensively. He moved to W'sconsin some 
twelve years ago and died there. Mr. Willis H. Bither now lives 
on this farm and is the present town clerk of Linneus. Alexan- 
der Gamble and Isaac Cochran were also early settlers, both 
coming from Ireland and making good farms on the Military 
road. Mr. John S. Taylor moved to Lmneus in 1842 and took 
a lot some three miles west of the Corner. Here he made a 
farm, upon which he lived until his death in 1865. His son, 
John Taylor, lived on the homestead until he was of age and in 
1853 bought the farm some two miles or less north of the Cor- 
ner, where he now resides. He was one of the selectmen of 
Linneus for eleven years and collector of taxes for thirteen years. 
Opposite Mr. Taylor, lives Capt. Nathaniel Young. Capt. Young 
moved from Dover in 1842 and first settled on a lot about a 
mile west of the Corner. He afterward made farms in different 
portions of the town and some twenty years ago bought the lot 
oppos'te Mr. Taylor's and built a neat set of buildings, where 



56 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

he now lives with his son. The venerable Captain is now in 
his 99th year, but is hale and strong and still walks about among 
his neighbors. He is a pensioner of the War of 1812. Near 
Capt. Young's is the comfortable home of Mr. Wm. D. Either, 
one of the oldest living residents of the town. Mr. Either had 
four sons in the Union Army and is a patriotic citizen. His son, 
Mr. Charles 0. Either, has a handsome residence nearby. He 
is one of the active citizens of the town and two years ago rep- 
resented his class in the State Legislature, Mr. John H. Clough 
was for many years a resident of Linneus. He was engaged in 
the construction of the Military road and afterwards settled in 
Linneus in the west part of the town. He is now an old men 
and lives with a son in the village of Houlton. 

Mr. Afr.'ca Buck, an early settler, took a lot west of Eenj. 
Bither's, where he made a farm and lived upon it until his death 
some twenty five years ago. Mr. John Hutchinson settled on 
the east side of the Military road something over a mile north 
of the Corner. His farm comprised the farms now owned by 
John Taylor, Frank Hutchinson, John Stewart, Wm. D. Either 
and Chas. 0. Either. Mr. Hutchinson lived on this farm some 
twenty years and removed to Oakfield. 

Mr. John C. Carpenter came from Corinna in 1841 and set- 
tled in Haynesville. In 1848 he removed to Linneus and took 
a lot some distance west of the Military road, where he made 
a farm upon which he lived until 1869, when he removed to 
Houlton, where he now resides. Mr. Carpenter was a member 
of the Board of County Commissioners in 1873. 



NEW LIMERICK 



The township lying immediately west of the town of Houl- 
ton now comprises two incorporated towns, the north half of 
the township having been incorporated in 1864, as the town of 
Ludlow, and the south half dating back as a town to 1837, when 
It was incorporated as the town of New Limerick. This latter 
half township was granted by the Massachusetts Legislature 
to the trustees of Phillips Limerick Academy sometime previous 
to the year 1810. 

The first settler upon the territory now included in the 
town of New Limerick was Mr. Samuel Morrison. Mr. Morri- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 57 

f3on was born in the town of Wells, in York County, and at the 
time of the Revolutionary War was old enough to serve as a 
:3oldier. He served through the campaign against Burgoyne and 
was present at the surrender at Saratoga. At the conclusion oi 
rthe war he settled in the town of New Limerick in the District 
of Maine, in which town people from Massachusetts commenced 
to settle as early as 1775. Here he resided for many years and 
accumulated some considerable property. After the grant by 
the Massachusetts Legislature of the half township of land in 
aid of Limerick Academy, Mr. Morrison purchased of the trus- 
tees several lots in the grant. The half township was located 
and surveyed by Major James Irish and was laid off in six par- 
allel ranges running from east to west, each range being one 
Tialf mile in width. These ranges were lettered A. B. C. D. E. F. 
"beginning at the northeast of the grant and lettering south on the 
east line. The lot lines were then run from north to south, di- 
viding each range into twelve lots, thus making in the grant 
seventy two lots, each one half mile square and containing 160 
acres. 

The first deed to Samuel Morrison was made in 1810 and 
was given by "Wm. Swasey of Limerick, County of York and 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, physician, in the capacity of 
secretary for and in behalf of the trustees." The deed declares 
that "In consideration of $480 to said trustees paid by Samuel 
Morrison of Limerick, in the county and state aforesaid, hus- 
bandmen * * * do hereby sell and convey unto the said Samuel 
three lots of land situated in the County of Washington, be- 
tween the Schoodock waters and the River St. John, being lot 
No. 1 in F Range, No. 2 in A Range, and No. 7 in E Range, con- 
taining 480 acres, more or less, as laid down on the plan of sale." 

In 1817 Mr. Morrison started with his family on their long 
journey through the forest to their new home in the wilderness 
of northeastern Maine. They came with their own teams, bring- 
ing with them a sufficient supply of provisions to last until a crop 
could be raised. The family arrived in Houlton in the fall of 
1817. Houlton was then in its infancy as a settlement, and con- 
tained but few families, with small clearings in the forest. The 
Morrison family remained for a time in Houlton, until a small 
clearing was made upon the lot in the extreme southeast corner 
of the town next to the Houlton line, being the lot described in 
the original deed as lot No. 1, Range F. Mr. Morrison afterwards 
acquired the lot adjoining this, being lot No. 1, Range E, and 
upon this lot he built the large square two-story house, which is 



5g HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

still standing on the road running from the Military road to^ 
the Shaw Tannery in New Limerick, the farm being now owned 
and occupied by Mr. Britton. Isaiah Morrison afterwards set- 
tled upon Lot No. 7 Range E, now occupied by Mr. Hatfield. 
Samuel Morrison afterwards purchased three more lots in the 
half township and these lots, viz: Nos. 4, R. E., 4, R. F. and 3, 
R. F., containing four hundred and eighty acres, were conveyed 
to him by Wm. Sv/asey for $480, the deed being dated Jan. 31, 
1818. The Morrisons remained in New Limerick for a number 
of years and then removed to Linneus, where the descendants 
of Samuel Morrison still reside. 

In 1820 True Bradbury and Christopher C. Bradbury of 
Limerick purchased a large tract of land in the Limerick Acad- 
emy grant and True Bradbury soon afterwards came to the 
grant and built a mill on the Meduxnekeag Stream. His bro- 
ther, Christopher, went at the same time to New Brunswick, 
where he was for a number of years engaged in the business of 
wool carding. The Bradburys did not move to New Limerick 
with their families until 1828, when True Bradbury established 
his home on the lot now occupied by Stephen Hunter, near 
where the road from the tannery intersects with the "County 
Road," so called. The large barn built by Mr. Bradbury is still 
standing. Christopher C. Bradbury took the lot immediately 
west of his, now occupied by Edward Hannigan. He lived 
there for eight years and in 1836 removed to Hodgdon. Mr. 
Jabez Bradbury, a cousin of True and Christopher, settled on 
the lot north of Christopher, which lot is now occupied by C. C. 
Bradbury, a grandson of True Bradbury. Jabez Bradbury was 
engaged in building a mill in Hodgdon as early as 1829, but 
retained his residence in New Limerick for a number of years 
after that timCc 

True Bradbury remained in New Limerick and engaged in 
farming and lumbering until his death in 1844. His son, Thomas 
M. Bradbury, then came into possession of the estate and car- 
ried on the farm and mill until 1861, when he removed to Houl- 
ton, where he is now engaged in trade. 

Another of the early settlers who was for many years a 
resident of the town and was well known throughout the County, 
was Capt. Moses Drew, who came from Limerick to the Acad- 
emy grant in 1820. He first settled near where Mr. George 
Smith now lives, where he made a clearing, built a house and 
barn and lived for a number of years. He afterwards took the 
lot immediately south of Christopher C. Bradbury, now occu- 



HISTORY OP AROOSTOOK 55 

pied by Rufus Piper. Here he lived upon th's farm until the 
fall of 1844, when he purchased the lot at the foot of Drew's 
lake, where he continued to reside until his death m 1877. Mr. 
Jonathan Hayes had made a small clearing near the lake where 
the pine grove now stands and there was an old dam at the foot 
of the lake built for driving purposes. Capt. Drew built a mill 
at the foot of the lake and also cleared up a farm and built a 
.good set of buildings. He was also for many years engaged 
in lime burning, the rock being procured in the adjoining town 
of Linneus. In 1861 he built the mill which is now standing. 
After the opening of the road from Houlton Drew's lake was for 
many years a pleasure resort and Capt. Drew kept a house of 
entertainment and also kept boats for the use of fishing parties. 
This was before the passage of the Maine law and pond water 
was by no means the only liquid required by the fishing parties 
of those days. Capt. Drew was a man of large physique, of a 
most kindly disposition and an inveterate joker. His son, Moses 
Drew, now carries on the farm and mill. He has built a new 
dam and enlarged the mill and in place of the old up-and-down 
saw, now has a rotary, planer, clapboard machine, lath machine 
and machine for planing and fitting clapboards. The mill is 
nine miles from Houlton and the lumber is hauled to Houlton 
station for shipment. 

The town of New Limerick was organized April 15, 1837. 
There were present at the organization. True Bradbury, his sons, 
Ebenezer C, Aaron N., Moses and Cyrus K., Hall J. Bradbury, 
son of Ebenezer C, John Dow, Moses Drew, Lemuel Drew, 
father of Moses, Royal B. Colbroth, John Felch, Joseph Good- 
enow, Oliver Gould, Jonathan Hayes, Samuel Morrison, Samuel 
Morrison, Jr., Stephen Randall, Joseph Stimson, Charles Spoon- 
€r, Moses Philpot, Ira Webber and Ivory Webber. From the 
valuation list of that year we find that there were 23 resident 
taxpayers and 59 scholars. There were in the town in 1837, 
119 acres of mowing land, 67 acres of pasturing, and 11 acres 
of tillage. The tillage land was valued at $6.00 per acre and 
wild land at $1.00. There were 15 horses in the town valued 
at $30 each; 14 oxen at $20 each; 28 cows at $15 each; 7 head 
of young cattle and 28 swine valued at $3 each. True Brad- 
bury was the heaviest taxpayer. His entire valuation, includ- 
ing one mill valued $10, and 1300 acres of wild land at $1.00 
per acre, was $1426, and his tax was $12.27. 

Of those who were present at the organization of the town 
we have already spoken of the Morrisons, the Bradburys and the 



60 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Drews. Most of the others we have been able to trace. John- 
Dow was a Maine man, a ship carpenter by trade, and went tO' 
New Brunswick about 1830 to work at that business. He came 
to New Limerick in 1836 and bought the farms of Christopher 
C. and Jabez Bradbury. Mr. Dow resided upon the first named 
farm until his death in 1852. His son, Absolom S. Dow, has 
been town clerk of New Limerick for many years. He reside.v 
on a small farm not far from Drew's Lake. Royal B. Colbrotb 
came from Limerick soon after the Morrisons. He married 
Samuel Morrison's daughter, Mehitable, and settled on the lot 
adjoining the Morrisons near the New Limerick lake. The 
farm is now occupied by Hiram Nickerson. Mr. Col^roth af- 
terwards moved to Ludlow and died there. John Felch came 
from Limerick and settled on what is now known as the Mullen 
farm. Mr. Felch cleared up the farm and was for many years 
a prominent citizen of the town. He removed to Minnesota in 
1856. Joseph Goodenow was an adopted son of Aaron Putnam, 
one of the pioneers of the town of Houlton, and was living in 
Houlton when the Morrisons arrived there in 1817. He soon 
after married Miss Dolly Morrison and removed to New Lime- 
rick, where he afterwards died. Oliver Gould came from Ber- 
wick. He is taxed in 1843 with lot 9, Range D, which is the 
lot next east of the Rufus Piper farm, and part of lots 9 and 10 
Range E, north of Drew's Lake. Mr. Gould was the first town 
treasurer of New Limerick. Jonathan Hayes came from Lime- 
rick and made the first clearing on the Moses Drew lot at the 
foot of Drew's Lake. Stephen Randall came from Limerick 
and settled on the lot next north of the Drew farm. He cleared 
up the farm and lived on it until his death some ten years ago. 
Charles Spooner came from Limerick and settled on a part of 
the lot upon which the tannery is now situated. Mr. Spooner 
married a daughter of Samuel Morrison. He was the first col- 
lector of taxes in the town. Simeon Lougee was one of the 
early settlers and made a farm east of the tannery lot upon 
which his son now resides. In 1841 Ephraim Nickerson and 
Benjamin F. Nickerson of China came to New Limerick and 
bought the Morrison farms. Benj, F. Nickerson afterwards pur- 
chased considerable land in different portions of the town and 
was a prominent citizen. Daniel Cookson, James Meservy and 
Daniel James came about 1840, and James Monahan and Pat- 
rick Fleming in 1845. 

The early settlers of New Limerick, like the pioneers of 
the Houlton settlement, whose nearest neighbor they were. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 61 

^were subjected to many hardships and privations in their strug* 
gles to make for themselves homes in this then remote forest 
region. There were no roads passable by carriages and many 
of the settlers were obliged to carry grain on their backs to 
mill and bring back flour to make bread for the r families. The 
first road opened into the town was the road now leading by the 
tannery. This road was cut out soon after the settlers com- 
menced to come upon the town, but was not pascatle for car- 
riages until long afterwards. In 1840 the ''new county road" 
so called, was opened. This road runs entirely across the town 
from east to west on the line between Ranges B and C, and now 
forms a part of the mail route from Houlton to Patten. The 
establishment of the tannery at New Limerick has resulted in 
building up quite a little village in the vicinity of that enter- 
prise and has added much to the business of the town and to 
its valuation. 

In the spring of 1875 Messrs. C. and W. I. Shaw of Dexter 
purchased the lot upon which the tannery now stands, compris- 
ing 160 acres, and also 3000 acres of hemlock timberland in the 
adjoining town of Linneus. The south branch of the Medux- 
nekeag Stream runs through the tannery lot and the Messrs. 
Shaw first commenced the construction of a saw mill in which 
to manufacture the lumber for the extensive buildings of the 
plant. They erected the tannery buildings the same year. 

The road from Houlton to the tannery runs near New 
Limerick Lake, or Nickerson Lake, as it is now called. This 
is a beautiful little sheet of water some two miles or more in 
length and perhaps a fourth of a mile wide. On the north side 
of the lake the ground slopes gradually from the road to the 
lakeside, while on the south it rises in an abrupt wooded bluff 
to a considerable height, adding much to the beauty of the 
landscape. This little lake furnishes a pleasant summer resort 
for the citizens of Houlton and many fine cottages have been 
erected on its shores. 

New Limerick is exceptionally well watered and there are 
pretty little lakes and swift flowing streams in nearly every por- 
tion of the town. Drew's Lake, a handsome sheet of water 
some four miles long and two miles wide, lies partly in the 
southwest portion of New Limerick and partly in the town of 
Linneus, From this lake flows a branch of the Meduxnekeag 
River, which after running southward a short distance into Lin- 
neus, turns again northward and re-enters New Limerick about 
midway of the south line flowing up by the tannery and then 



62 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

turning to the east and flowing on to Houlton and beyond. In 
the northwest corner of the town is Cochrane's Lake, the outlet 
of which runs into Bradbury's Lake, a short distance farther to 
the east, and from the latter lake a considerable stream flows in 
a southeasterly direction, uniting with the Meduxnekeag branch 
a short distance from the tannery. 



SMYRNA 



The town of Smyrna was originally Township No. 6, in the 
third range of townships west from the east line of the State. 
It is bounded on the north by Township No. 7, R. 3, on the east 
by the southern part of Letter B, R. 2, town of Ludlow and the 
northern part of New Limerick, on the south by Oakfield, and 
on the west by Merrill Plantation. 

The surface of the town in the southern portion is consider- 
ably broken, and in some places high wooded ridges or bluffs 
rise to a commanding height and can be seen from all the sur- 
rounding towns. 

Leaving the village of Houlton near the residence of Col. 
B. H. Putnam, the stage road runs in a westerly direction across 
the western portion of the town of Houlton, cutting through the 
"horseback" and passing some very handsome farms in that 
town. It then continues due west for about two thirds of the 
distance across New Limerick, when it turns to the northwest 
and skirting the foot of Cochrane's Lake, near Titcomb's mill, 
leaves New Limerick at the extreme northwest corner of that 
town and enters Smyrna about half a mile north of the southern 
line of the town. The road continues across Smyrna in a general 
westerly course, when it turns to the south and runs in a south 
and southwesterly course across the plantation of Dyer Brook 
to Island Falls. 

The first settler upon the town of Smyrna was Mr. Nehe- 
miah Leavitt of Royalton, Vt. who came to the town about the 
year 1830. Mr. Leavitt had, previous to that time, received 
from the State Legislature, a grant of the township on condi- 
tion that he should place 100 settlers upon the town within five 
years, build a saw mill and grist mill and four schoolhouses. 

The East Branch of the Mattawamkeag runs in a southerly 
direction entirely across the town near its western line Mr. 



HIST<3RY OF AROOSTOOK 6S 

Leavitt made his first clearing on a lot in the southwest part of 
the town on the bank of the East Branch. He was a minister of 
the Methodist denomination and induced a number of settlers of 
that faith to come and make homes upon the new township. 
Not having the required number of settlers at the end of five 
years, he obtained from the State an extension of five years 
more in which to comply with the conditions of his grant, and 
near the expiration of this second term he sold his claim upon 
the town to Messrs. Dunn and Jefferds. Mr. Leavitt continued 
to live upon his farm until about 1846, when a Western fever 
broke out, and he, with a number of the other early settlers left 
for the West 

About 1841, Dunn and Jefferds built a sawmill on the east 
side of East Branch, in which there was an up-and-down saw 
and one run of stones. The mill run for a number of years, 
but after the building of Gary's mill at Houlton it was aban- 
doned and allowed to decay. 

Among the early settlers of the town we have been able 
to trace the following: John Marley came from England to 
Boston, and in 1831 moved to Smyrna and settled on the lot 
where his son, B. T. Marley, now lives. He cleared up the farm 
and lived on it until his death twenty years ago. 

Willard Corliss came from Lubec in 1833 and settled on a 
lot next to the east line of the town. He cleared his farm and 
lived on it until twelve years ago, when he moved to Wade 
Plantation, near Washburn. He has been a hunter and trapper 
in this region for many years. Elias Blodgett came from the 
western part of the State and settled on the lot where Charles 
Adams now lives. He afterward took the lot v/here John Rosie 
now lives. He married a daughter of Nehemiah Leavitt and left 
for the West with him. Franklin Blodgett, brother of Elias, 
settled .on a lot south of the Marley farm now on the Oakfield 
road. He also removed to the West. Thomas Adams came from 
M'rimichi and settled near the east line of the town. He after- 
ward moved to Linneus, where he lived for many years. Samuel 
Drew came from Limerick in 1820 and settled in New Lime- 
rick, where he lived until 1835, when he moved to Smyrna and 
settled on a lot near the east line of the town. Mr. Drew was 
a brother of Capt. Moses Drew of New Limerick and was a 
local preacher of the Free Baptist denomination. He lived in 
Smyrna until 1866, when he removed to Dyer Brook, where he 
died some four years later. His son, Moses Drew, bought half 
the lot south of his father's, where he cleared a farm and built 



^4" HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

a set of buildings. He lived upon this farm until 1874, when: 
he bought the lot upon which the Yerxa Hotel now stands. He 
kept hotel here for twelve years and then bought a lot near the 
East Branch, where he made a clearing and built the large 
hotel which he has since kept. Mr. Drew's wife was a daugh- 
ter of John Marley, and was the first child born in the town of 
Smyrna. Johnson Frost came from Norway, Oxford County, 
and settled near the east line of the town. He lived here a 
number of years and then returned to Oxford County. Thomas 
Hassett came from Ireland and settled upon the lot upon a part, 
of which the Baptist meeting house now stands. He cleared a. 
large farm upon which he lived until his death, some seven 
years ago. Alexander Herrick came from Norridgewock and 
settled on a lot on what is now the Oakfield road. He left 
the town many years ago. William Irish came from Buckfield, 
in Oxford County, and settled on the lot where Mr. John Rosie 
now lives. He cleared a large farm and lived upon it until about 
1850, when he removed to Sherman. He afterwards went to 
the West, where he died a number of years ago. Mr. Irish was 
a man of considerable ability and force of character. He was 
for many years a prominent citizen, was a representative to the 
Legislature and was afterwards a senator from Aroostook 
County. 

Enos Leavitt was a nephew of Nehemiah Leavitt. His farm 
was at Smyrna Centre. He has been dead a number of years. 
Oramil Leavitt, a brother of Enos, had the farm where Edward 
Estabrook now lives. He moved to Hodgdon and afterwards 
to Sherman, where he died some years ago. Thomas S. Leavitt, 
with his father. Nehemiah Leavitt, Jr., had the farm upon 
which Henry McGary now lives. He was a land surveyor and 
in 1836 lotted the town of Smyrna and all deeds in the town 
refer to his survey. He also went to the West with his. father. 

Luther Laughton settled on the farm upon which Augustus 
Benn now lives. He did not remain long in the town. Michael 
Lyon came from Ireland and settled on a lot north of the Centre. 
He has been dead many years. Gideon Oakes came from Ar- 
gyle and settled in the east part of the town on a part of what 
is now the Hemore farm. His daughter is the wife of Dr. T. 
S. C. Berry. He left the town about 1850. James Perkins 
came from Parsonsfield and settled on the lot where Wm. 
Sewall now lives. He cleared the farm and lived upon it for 
many years. Jonathan Sleeper came from New Hampshire and 
settled near the Centre. He moved to Sherman about 1850 and 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 65 

died there. His sons, Moses, Daniel P., William T. and Jona- 
than, Jr., all had farms in Smyrna in 1839. William T. Sleeper 
became a clergyman of the Congregational denomination and 
was for a time settled in Sherman. He afterward removed to 
Caribou and for a number of years published the North Star at 
that place. He is now pastor of a church in Worcester, Mass. 
George Taylor came from New Hampshire and settled on a lot 
near the Mills. He cleared a farm and kept hotel for many 
years. He removed to the West about 1846. Mr. Charles 
Wiers now lives on the farm. 

Sheubael C. West came from Industry and settled on a lot 
in the east part of the town, where he made a farm. He became 
insane and was removed to the asylum at Augusta. William 
Woods came from Rhode Island and settled on the lot now occu- 
pied by Artemas Leavitt. He did not remain long. Elijah 
Wiggin settled on the lot now occupied by Amos Noyes. His 
brother, Ephraim Wiggin, Hived with him and was afterward 
employed in the mill. They both went West with Nehemiah 
Leavitt. 

Thomas McGary came from Ireland and settled on the farm 
where I. N. Robinson now lives. He afterward took a lot near 
the Centre, where he cleared a large farm, upon which he lived 
until his death some 30 years ago. Ira Webber came from 
Limerick and lived on a part of what is now the Hemore farm. 
He soon after removed to Bangor, where he has been a house 
carpenter for many years. The above named are about all the 
settlers who were in the town at the time of its incorporation in 
1839. 

Mr. Osgood Pingry came from New Hampshire in 1840 and 
settled at Smyrna Centre on the farm now occupied by Henry 
Donlley. He was elected to the Legislature in 1841. He after- 
ward lived at Smyrna Mills, where he kept a hotel for a number 
of years. He was also a justice of the peace and was a prom- 
inent man in the town. Mr. Pingry afterward moved to Island 
Falls, where he died a number of years ago. Levi Berry moved 
from Wilton, Franklin County, in 1841, and took the lot upon 
which Mr. D. D. Hemore now lives. Samuel Dunn had made 
a small clearing and abandoned it. Mr. Berry cleared this farm 
and bu'lt the buildings now standing. In 1860 he bought of Wm. 
Briggs the farm upon which Wellington Yerxa now lives and 
remained upon this farm until his death in 1873. Mr. Berry 
was for many years a prominent man in the town and was large- 
ly engaged in lumbering and trading. He built the mills at 



66 HISTORY OP AROOSTOOK 

the foot of Cochran Lake now owned by F. VV. Titcornb of Houl- 
ton. His son, Andrew J. Berry, was a small boy when he came 
with his father to Smyrna, where he has resided ever since. 
When he became of age he bought the farm upon which Mr. 
Chas. E. Lilly now lives. There was then but a small clearing 
on the lot. Mr. Berry cleared a large farm and built a sub- 
stantial set of buildings. He sold the farm six years ago, re- 
serving a building lot upon which he built a neat and convenient 
residence. He is now postmaster and does conveyancing and 
pension business. Mr. Peleg Berry, a son of Levi Berry, was 
for some years a merchant in Houlton and has now retired from 
business on account of ill health. Dr. T. C. S. Berry, another 
son, was for some years a physician in Houlton, and is now 
living in the West. 

Mr. Franklin Ham came to Smyrna about 1856. He first 
traded for a time at Smyrna Mills and afterward built the East 
Branch House, on the west side of the river, where he kept a 
hotel until his death. Mr. Ham was a genial, kind hearted man 
and had many friends in Aroostook County. He was for some 
years a member of the board of County Commissioners, and 
died in 1871, from the effects of exposure while in performance 
of the duties of that office. 

The northern half of the town of Smyrna is not settled and 
is still in its wilderness state. For many years the town of 
Smyrna was in an unfortunate condition financially and this 
fact gave it rather an unhealthy reputation. It is now, how- 
ever virtually out of debt and the tax is but seventeen mills 
on the dollar. We predict that with the opening of the railroad 
Smyrna will take good rank both as an agricultural and as a 
manufacturing town. 



ASHLAND 



The town of Ashland, formerly Number Eleven, Range Five, 
lies due west from the town of Presque Isle, with two ranges 
of townships between. The stage road from Presque Isle to 
Ashland follows the curve of the Aroostook River and runs 
through the northern portion of the towns of Mapleton and 
Castle Hill, and thence in a southwesterly direction across the 
corner of Sheridan Plantation to Ashland village. Though quite 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 67 

hilly, this road extends through a fertile region for a large por- 
tion of the way, and in many places the landscape scenery is 
grand and beautiful. Through Sheridan Plantation not much 
improvement has been made in the way of making farms, the 
settlers along the road through this township being principally 
French, and the buildings and surroundings being of rather a 
primitive character. 

Ashland has for many years been the headquarters of the 
vast lumbering business of the upper Aroostook, and has played 
a most important part in the business history of the county. 
Its prominence as a lumbering centre, and the opportunities af- 
forded for engaging in that business, have had a tendency to 
retard its development as an agricultural town, though it is pos- 
sessed of a fertile soil and is naturally an excellent farming 
town. Much more attention is now being paid to agriculture, 
and the resources of the town in that direction are being more 
fully developed each year. The soil along the Aroostook River 
in this town is as fertile as any in the county, and there are 
beautiful intervale tracts upon which large crops of hay and 
grain are produced. The old stage route from Patten to Fort 
Kent runs through the western portion of the town, and it is 
along this road and in the vicinity of the Aroostook River that 
the settled portion of the town is found. Almost the entire 
eastern half of the town is still covered with forest, much of 
it being timberland, but a large portion being suitable for farm- 
ing purposes. 

The first settler upon the town was William Dalton, who 
came to the Aroostook River some t'me about 1830 and settled 
near the bank of the river upon the lot now included in the 
beautiful estate of the Dunn Bros, on the west side of the 
Aroostook, below the mouth of Big Machias. The ruins of the 
timber house built by this pioneer settler of Ashland are still 
standing and form an object of interest to the citizens of the 
town. Dalton remained upon the lot until about 1844, when he 
sold his improvements to Elbridge G. Dunn and John S. Oilman. 
This lot is numbered "55" upon the town survey and no men- 
tion is made of it in the report of the Commissioners who visit- 
ed the Aroostook in 1844 to inquire into the claims of settlers 
under the treaty of 1842. In their report made Dec. 25, 1844, 
the Commissioners recognize the title of Solomon Soule to Lot 
No. 15, of Thomas J. Page to Lot No. 17, of John S. Oilman 
and Elbridge O. Dunn to Lot No. 19, and of Benjamin Howe to 
Lot No. 44, as "purchasers from the State of Lots improved 



68 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

before August 9, 1836. No mention whatever is made of Lot 
No. 55. In the report of the second Commission, made March 
6, 1855, the four lots mentioned above were granted as follows: 
Lot No. 15 to George W. Smith; No. 17 to Josiah H. Blake; 
No. 19 to John S. Oilman; No. 44 to Benjamin Howe, and in 
the same report Lot No. 55, containing 184.30 acres is granted 
to Elbridge G. Dunn. 

Not many years after Dalton came to the town Thomas 
Neal settled on the lot above the mouth of the Big Machias, 
afterward the homestead of John S. Gilman, and Benjamin Howe 
settled a few miles farther up the river near the foot of Bols- 
tridge's Island. In 1838 a company consisting of George W. 
Buckmore of Ellsworth, William D. Parsons of Eastbrook, James 
McCaron of New Brunswick, and others, was formed for the 
purpose of building a mill near the mouth of the Big Machias 
River. In that year a dam was built across that river some half 
a mile above its junction with the Aroostook. In the spring of 
1839 a high freshet carried the dam away, and in September 
of the same year a new dam was built and a mill erected. This 
mill contained an up-and-down saw and also a run of stones 
and bolt. After a year or two James McCaron bought the mill 
of the company and after running it some three years sold It 
to E. G. Dunn and John S. Gilman, who a few years afterwards 
sold to Fish and True. They operated a few years and sold 
the mill to J. A. Flint and Ira D. Fish, who continued in pos- 
session some six or seven years, when Mr. Flint became sole 
proprietor and a few years later sold to C. W. Clayton, the 
present owner. The mill formed the nucleus of a little settle- 
ment here In the wilderness. Quite a number of those who game 
to work upon it remained, and others were attracted to the town 
for farming purposes. Luther Butler, one of the oldest living 
residents of the town, came from Eastbrook, Hancock County, 
in 1838. After working upon the mill until its completion, Mr. 
Butler and Mr. Septimus B. Bearce, who came to the town in 
the spring of 1839, bought of George W. Buckmore the lot upon 
the east side of the Aroostook River where Mr. Bearce now 
lives. 

In 1840 Mr. Solomon Brown came from the town of Greene 
and made a clearing on the lot next north of Bearce and Butler 
and a short time afterward Mr. Butler bought his Improvement 
and went to work to clear up a farm, which he still owns. 

Jabez Dorman and Elbridge Wakefield came in 1838 and 
worked upon the dam and mill. Mr. Wakefield afterward took 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 69 

up the lot where A. T. Mooers, Esq., now lives, and made the 
first clearing on this lot. He afterward sold his improvement to 
Sincla.r, Jewett and March, a firm of lumber operators who 
cleared up a large part of the lot. Mr. Dorman took the lot 
next south of the Wakefield lot, where he cleared up a farm 
upon which he continued to reside until his death, which oc- 
curred a few years since. 

Micajah Dudley oi Ch'na came in the fall of 1838 and felled 
some trees on the lot where R. G. Kalloch now lives. He did 
not rema.n, ho\vever, and in the spring of 1839 Mr. Kalloch, 
also from China, bought Dudley's improvement and moved in 
upon the lot. There was then no road to the town, the Aroos- 
took road at that time being built no farther than Masardis. 
Mr. Kalloch came with his family by team from Bangor to 
Masardis, where he made a raft of boards upon which they 
floated down the Aroostook River to their new home. Mr. Kal- 
loch has been an active citizen of the town ever since, and in 
1842 represented the district in the State Legislature. He died 
in 1891. 

In the fall of 1839, the road was cut through from Masardis 
to Ashland but was not made passable for carriages until some 
years later. Not long afterward the road was cut through to 
Presque Isle and was then callled the Fairbanks road, as Fair- 
banks' mill was about all there was of Presque Isle at that 
time. 

In 1839, Solomon Soule came in and cleared up the land 
where Orcutt's hotel now stands, and built a house and com- 
menced keeping a hotel. A large lumber business was at that 
t'me done in the vicinity and the hotel had a good patronage. 
Mr. Soule afterwards sold the hotel to Mr. George W. Smith, 
who kept it until his death. His v/idow continued the business 
lor a number of years and then rented the house to Daniel W. 
Orcutt, and a few years later to Samuel Jewett. Mrs. Smith 
afterwards carried on the house herself for a year or two and 
then sold It to Mr. D. O. Orcutt, the present proprietor. 

Mr. D. G. Cook came to Ashland in 1839 and made a clear- 
ing on the WInslow place a short distance south of Mr. Kalloch's. 
The next year he moved to the corner of the Presque Isle road 
and took up the lot on the north side of the road opposite the 
lot now occupied by A. T. Moores. Here Mr. Cook made a 
clearing and built a frame house In which he kept public house 
for a number of years. The first deed of this lot was given to 
Mr. Cook in accordance with the recommendation of the Com- 



70 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

missioners in their report in 1855. In 1858 Mr. Cook sold the 
property to Stephen P. Hews, and removed to Presque Isle and 
settled on the Whitcomb farm, a short distance south of Presque 
Isle village on the Houlton road. Mr. Cook was for many years 
a prominent citizen of Presque Isle, where he held the office of 
Trial Justice until his death, which occurred a few years since. 

In 1840 Mr. Grindall Coffin settled on the lot where Dear- 
born Bearce now lives, and Mr. Joseph Walker on the lot where 
Leonard Ellis now lives. It appears by the report of the Com- 
m ssioners that the north half of lots No. Seven and Ten, lying 
on opposite sides of the road, was granted to Joseph Walker, 
and the south half of the same lots to Josiah H. and Leonard 
H. Ellis. Benjamin Hawes and his brother, Orric Hawes came 
from Vassalboro about 1840 and took up a lot on the Presque 
Isle road about a mile and a half from the corner. Orric Hawes 
remained but a short time and returned to Kennebec County. 
Benjamin Hawes was for many years engaged in farm'ng and 
lumbering and was a prominent citizen of Aroostook County. 
He was sheriff of the county at one time and also served as 
a member of the Board of County Commissioners. Upon the 
breaking out of the war he entered the service as Major of the 
15th Regiment and soon after the close of the war removed to 
Kansas, where he died a few years since. Mr. Joseph Brackett 
was another of the early settlers of the town. He came about 
the year 1840 and settled near the mill. 

Soon after this Mr. Elbridge G. Dunn and Mr. John S. 
Gilman, both from Mt. Vernon, came to Ashland and engaged 
in lumbering and farming. Mr. Dunn afterwards settled upon 
the Dalton farm on the east side of the Aroostook River, where 
he made a very fine farm and built a handsome residence, which 
his son, E. G. Dunn, Jr., now occupies. Mr. Dunn became weal- 
thy in the business of lumbering and the purchase of timber 
lands, and in 1870 removed to St. John, where he has since 
been extensively engaged in the manufacture of lumber. Mr. 
John S. Gilman was for some years engaged in the lumber 
business with Mr. Dunn and afterwards with Mr. Hiram Brack- 
ett. In 1843 he bought the lot opposite the mouth of Big Ma- 
chias Stream, where he cleared up a large farm, building his 
farm buildings near the bank of the Aroostook River. Here 
he continued to reside until his death, and his widow still lives 
on the old place with her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. Charles 
E. Clark. 

Mr. A. T. Mooers came from Vassalboro in the fall of 1842. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 71 

Mr. Mooers brought with him a stock of boots and shoes and 
commenced trading in a building on Bearce's Flat. He after- 
wards moved the store to a corner of the Presque Isle road and 
sold it to J. Sinclair & Co., a firm doing a large business, and 
went into their employ as a clerk. After a few years he formed 
a co-partnership with Messrs. Jewett & March under the firm 
name of A. T. Mooers & Co., which continued for ten years. 
In the meantime he bought the farm where he now resides and 
in 1863 built a large store with a hall overhead on the corner 
of the Presque Isle road. Here he continued to trade until the 
store was burned in August, 1890. Mr. Mooers has long been 
very much interested in fruit raising and has done much for 
its encouragement in his vicinity. He is the originator of the 
Mooers' Arctic Plum, which has proved to be a most valuable 
plum. The Arctic is a seedling from a plum which Mr. Mooers 
bought in Quincy Market, Boston. After raising a number of 
the trees, and proving the excellence of the fruit, he sold the 
trees to Mr. Sharp of Woodstock, who has since propagated 
them quite extensively. Mr. Mooers was appointed postmaster 
of Ashland in 1845, and held the office until after the Cleveland 
administration came into power. 

Isaac Hacker came to Ashland from the town of Ch'na, 
in 1843, and built a store near the saw mill, and a few years 
later built the store on the corner of the Presque Isle road, 
where W. P. Bridgham now trades. Mr. Hacker built a mill 
on the Big Machias Stream, in what is now the plantation of 
Garfield, adjoining Ashland. This mill contained an up-and- 
down saw and a clapboard machine. He afterwards sold the 
mill to Parker and Abner Weeks, who run it for a number of 
years, when it was burned and has never been rebuilt. Mr. 
Hacker also built a mill in 1844, at the mouth of the Little Ma- 
ch'as Stream in Ashland. This was a grist mill, and also con- 
tained a clapboard and shingle machine. After running a few 
years, Mr. Hacker sold this mill to Mr. Charles Stewart, who 
put in an up-and-down saw and operated the mill for a number 
of years, when it returned to Mr. Hacker's possession. It then 
passed through a number of hands, and was finally purchased 
by Mr. J. A. Flint, the present proprietor. David Dudley was 
for some time engaged in business with Mr. Hacker in those 
early years, and was the first postmaster at Ashland. 

Mr, J. A. Flint came from Bridgton in 1844 and worked for 
Isaac Hacker upon the mill at the mouth of the Little Machias. 
The road from Ashland to Fort Kent was cut through in the fall 



72 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

and winter of 1839, but was hardly passable for teams until 
about this time. This road as first travelled extended up the 
east bank of the Aroostook River, by the Butler and Coffin lots, 
and a ferry was maintained across the river below the mouth 
of little Machias. In 1846, the bridge was built across the 
Aroostook and the ferry was then discontinued, the route to 
Fort Kent now crossing on this bridge and continuing up the 
west side of the river, crossing the Little Machias near the mill, 
where another bridge was built. 

In 1844 Mr. Calvin P. Bartlett came from Mt. Vernon and 
settled on the west bank of the Aroostook River a short dis- 
tance above the mouth of Little Machias. Mr. Bartlett was 
formerly engaged in lumbering and now has a very fine farm * 
and has paid much attention to raising good horses. He has 
now some very fine colts in his stables and pasture. 

Josiah Blake came from Farmington and bought the Thos. 
J. Page lot about half a mile south of the village on the Mas- 
ardis road. This farm is now occupied by Mr. Silas S. Oilman 
and is one of the finest in the town. Rev. M. R. Keep came to 
Ashland in 1846. Mr. Keep was born in Swanton, Vt., and was 
brought up by relatives in Canada. He entered Middlebury 
College, Vt., and afterwards became a student at the Bangor 
Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1846 and imme- 
diately started out as a missionary to the wilds of northern 
Maine. For many years he travelled on foot through these for- 
ests, preaching at the little settlements, extending his journeys 
away through the woods to Fort Kent and to the settlements 
at St. Franc's and farther up the St. John, Mr. Keep is a man 
of marked characteristics and of many eccentricities. He has 
lived in close communion with Nature and cares little for the 
conventionalities of society. His work has been done mainly 
among those who had little to give him in recompense and his 
incentive has been a desire to do good and to carry the. consol- 
ations of religion to those who were unable to purchase them. 
He will die poor in this world's goods, but rich in the posses- 
sion of the affection of the many v/ho have been aided by his 
kindly counsels and tender ministrations in time of trouble. 

Mr. Peter Dunn came to Ashland about 1849 and was for 
a time engaged in the lumber business with his brother, Mr. 
E. G. Dunn. He afterwards operated on his own account and 
became a large owner of timberlands. About 1860 he bought a 
fine farm on the west side of the Aroostook River, which he 
very much improved and where he built a fine stand of build- 
ings. Mr. Dunn studied law in his younger days and prac- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 73 

ticed to some extent. He represented his district at one time 
in the State Legislature and was for many years a prominent 
citizen of Aroostook. His death occurred at Ashland in the 
summer of 1889. 

Mr. D. N. Rogers was formerly a prominent business man 
at Ashland. He came to the town about 1851 as clerk for Isaac 
Hacker. He afterwards bought the business and continued in 
trade until his death, about the year 1872. His widow con- 
tinued the business for a time, and then sold to Mr. C. W. 
Clayton. Mr. Clayton has been engaged in the lumber busi- 
ness in Aroostook for many years, having formerly lived at 
Masardis. He came to Ashland in 1870, and bought the mills 
on the Big Machias Stream. Here he has done a large busi- 
ness in connection with his son, the firm being C. F. Clayton 
& Co. In 1878 they built a starch factory near their mill at 
Ashland, and in 1883 they built another on the Squa Pan Stream 
in Masardis. In 1886 they built the steam shingle mill at Ash- 
land. Their saw mill contains a rotary, clapboard machine, 
planer, lath machine and barrel machinery. They saw about 
500,000 feet of long lumber yearly for the local market. They 
also manufacture 200,000 clapboards yearly, the shipping quali- 
ties being hauled to Presque Isle and sent by rail to Boston. 
Here also are made all the barrels used at their two starch fac- 
tories. In their shingle mill they manufacture in some years 
as many as three million shingles, the first qualities being 
shipped by way of Presque Isle to Boston. The firm has opera- 
tions in the woods every winter, cutting lumber to supply the 
mills. Mr. Clayton is also largely engaged in farming, having 
a large farm in the adjoining town of Garfield. 

Mr. E. R. McKay came to Ashland in 1852 and has been in 
the employ of the Dunns ever since. He carried on their large 
farm for thirteen years and scaled in the woods during the win- 
ter season. He has been chairman of the board of selectmen 
for many years. Mr. McKay built the large two-story build- 
ing on the corner opposite the hotel and uses the upper story 
for a residence. The lower story is occupied as a lumber supply 
store by Dunn Bros. This firm is largely engaged in lumbering 
and cut from eight to twelve millions yearly on Aroostook wa- 
ters. Mr. George B. Dunn, the senior member of the firm, 
occupied the homestead for some time after his father moved 
to St. John. He afterwards bought the handsome residence of 
Hon. L. Powers in Houlton, where he has since lived. Mr. 
E. G. Dunn, Jr., is now the occupant of the estate and is making 



74 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

extensive improvements upon the farm and buildings. He 
represented his district in the Legislature of 1891. 

As we approach the town of Ashland from Presque Isle we 
first come to the large farm of Mr. Hazen Walker, situated 
upon a beautiful ridge of land and consisting of a succession 
of fine smooth fields extending away back to the forest growth. 

After a careful examination of the town and its agricultur- 
al capabilities, we do not hesitate to say that were the same 
general attention paid to farming as in towns not so largely en- 
gaged in the lumbering interest, Ashland wauld be one of the 
best farming towns in the county. The town was incorporated 
under the name of Ashland in 1862. In 1869 the name was 
changed to Dalton, in honor of its pioneer settler, but in 1876 
it was changed back again to its original name. The popula- 
tion of the town by the census of 1890 was 568, and the valua- 
tion was $136,433. The survey of the branch of the Bangor & 
Aroostook Railroad has been completed to Ashland, and when 
this road is constructed it will largely increase the business of 
the town and increase the population. 



HAYNESVILLE 



About twenty-five miles southwest of Houlton, on the old 
Military road, is the village of Haynesville, situated near the 
"Forks" of the Mattawamkeag, or the point where the east and 
west branches of that river unite and form the main Mattawam- 
keag River which flows in a southwesterly direction and empties 
into the Penobscot at Mattawamkeag Point. The establishment 
of the military post at Houlton in 1828 and the consequent trans- 
portation of large quantities of suppllies for the garrison at Han- 
cock barracks attracted settlers to the line of the route over 
which these stores were carried. The Forks, or as it was spok- 
en of by Major Clark, the officer in command at Houlton, "the 
crotch of the Mattawamkeag," was an important point upon the 
route from the beginning of these operations and the handling 
of large quantities of supplies at times brought quite a number 
of men to this point. It is pretty well settled that the first per- 
marent settler in what is now the town of Haynesville was Mr. 
William Wilson who came from Somerset Countv in 1828 and 
settled a short distance east of the forks. His father, Mr. Jona- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 75 

than Wilson, came soon after and together they took up the land 
now included in the farms of Mr. Wm. F. WJson, Mr. H. G. 
Tuck and Mr. Charles Irish. They cleared a iarm and bu It 
the house in which Mr. Wm, F. Wilson now l.ves. Jonathan 
Willson died many years ago, and his son, William Wilson, 
continued to live upon the farm until his death in 1882. 

Immediately upon settling at the Forks the Wilsons opened 
.a house of entertainment, or a stopping place for those whose 
business callled them to this wilderness region. It was proba- 
bly a very primitive style of hotel, but was without douot the 
first public house opened at the Forks. No road had at that time 
been built in all this region, and the work of forv/ardlng sup- 
plies to the garrison was one of much difficulty. Work was al. 
once commenced with the view of cutting a road through to 
Houlton and was at first carried on by the soldiers. This finally 
resulted in the construction of the Military road, which was com- 
pleted in the winter of 1832. 

The opening of this road induced other settlers to establish 
themselves along its line and to engage in farming and in sup- 
plying the wants of those whom this new enterprise attracted 
thither. Mr. Albion Haynes was one of the earliest settlers 
who came to the Forks, and for him the town was afterwards 
named. Mr. Haynes settled a short d.stance below the Forks, 
near where the Pollard store now stands, and here he kept a 
hotel for a number of years. Mr. Asa Smith afterwards kept 
the hotel, but subsequently moved to Mattawamkeag. In 1832 
Messrs Hall and Leighton built a hotel on the hill about two 
miles below the Forks. They afterwards built a hotel near 
where the Military road crosses the Mattawamkeag river, on 
the lot where Mr. Wm. H. Chambers now lives. About the year 
1840, Mr. Daniel Cummings came from Cape Elizabeth and 
took the hotel on the hill below the Forks which he kept for 
many years. In 1853, Mr. R. B. Campbell came from Boston 
and took the Cummings' hotel and Mr. Cummings built a house 
nearby, where he lived until his death some ten or twelve years 
ago. Mr. Campbell also carried on a large farm in connection 
with the hotel. He was a man of much energy and force of 
character and was withal an intense Union man during the war. 
So strong were his sentiments in this respect that he has been 
known to order guests from his house during the time of the 
war for uttering disloyal sentiments and even to threaten them 
with forcible ejectment if they did not depart at once. Mr. 
Campbell continued to keep the hotel until his death some 



76 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

twenty years ago. Mr. Jeremiah Blaisdell was in Mr. Camp- 
bell's employ for many years and was well known to all patrons 
of the house. After Mr. Campbell's death his son, Frank Camp- 
bell, continued in the house for a number of years, when It was 
sold to Mr. E. F. Hillman, who died some five years ago. Mr. 
L. L. Wiers now has the house. 

In the olden time, before the era of the railroad, the old 
Military road was the principal route for communication with 
x'^roostook County, and nearly all the supplies for this upper 
country were hauled over this road. Large lumbering opera- 
tions were carr.ed on in its vicinity and great quantities of sup- 
plies for the camps were hauled from Bangor. The road was 
also the mail route from Houlton to Bangor and passenger 
coaches, always well loaded, ran upon the line. This large 
amount of travel gave business to many hotels along the line 
and for many years no better houses of entertainment could be 
found in the State than were kept along the old Military road. 

Mr. Reuben Ordv/ay of Bangor was an early proprietor of 
the mail route from Houlton to Mattawamkeag and in 1840 Mr. 
Eben Woodbury came to Houlton and took charge of the line. 
In 1847, the firm of Woodbury and Bailey was formed and this 
firm owned the route until 1868, doing a large business, especial- 
ly during the years of the war. In 1868 the route was sold to 
Mr. Asa Smith of Mattawamkeag, who in 1870 sold to the East- 
ern Express Co. This company put on a fine line of coaches, 
each drawn by four fleet horses, frequent changes being made, 
and the running time being ten miles an hour. Upon the exten- 
sion of the railroad to Houlton in 1872, the mails were trans- 
ferred to the N. B. R. R. Co. Freight and passengers also 
sought the same route and the glory departed from the old Mili- 
tary road. Most of the hotels along the road have nov/ been 
abandoned and a way mail Is now carried with one horse from 
Haynesville to Kingman every other day. The road Is now but 
comparatively little used and a generation has grown up, to 
wh'ch the busy scenes and Immense traffic on this old highway 
are now but matters of history and tradition. 

Mr. L. D. Wyatt took the hotel at the Forks many years 
ago and kept it for some time and afterwards built a new hotel 
on the corner near Mr. John H. Brown's. This house was after- 
wards burned. In 1853, Mr. Wyatt built the hotel now kept by 
Mr. L. H. Whittier, and after carrying on the business for a 
number of years sold to Mr. Gorham Rollins. This house af- 
terwards passed through a number of hands and In 1880 was 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 77 

■purchased by Mr. Whittier, the present proprietor, Mr. Richard 
Smith took the hotel near the bridge after Mr. Wyatt left it and 
in 1865 sold to Wm. H. Chambers, who still owns the proper- 
ty, but does not now keep the house open to the public. 

Mr. Isaac Bradbury was one of the early settlers of the 
town. He came from Saco and settled on the line of the Military 
road a mile north of the bridge. He cleared a farm and lived 
on it until his death some thirty years ago. Mr. J. C. Patchell 
now lives on a part of this farm and Mr. Simeon Irish has the 
remainder. 

Mr. Samuel Tuck came to Haynesville from Norridgewock 
in the early days of the settlement. He first settled on the 
Military road some two miles north of the bridge, on the farm 
upon which Mr. Edwin Bedel now lives. He afterwards moved 
to a lot a mile and a half from the corner on the ferry road, 
where he lived until his death some twenty-five years ago. 
Judge Tuck was a prominent man here for many years and was 
•well known throughout southern Aroostook. He was a land sur- 
veyor and also justice of the peace, and was for some time 
judge of probate of Aroostook County. Mr. Albert Mitchell 
now lives upon the old Tuck homestead. 

Mr. Andrew Calkins was also an early settler who lived for 
some time on the ferry road north of Judge Tuck's, but moved 
away many years ago. Mr. Abner B. Hall was one of the 
pioneers of the town and first settled on the lot where Mr. John 
H. Brown now lives. He lived upon this farm until 1847, when 
"he moved to a lot on the Military road, half a mile south of the 
corner, where he lived a number of years and then moved to a 
lot a mile and a half north of the bridge, where he lived until 
his death some twenty years ago. 

Mr. John H. Brown, now one of the leading citizens of 
Haynesville, came when a boy with his father from China and 
lived in Linneus for a number of years. In 1847, he came to 
Haynesville, being employed by the firm of Woodbury and Bai- 
ley, of Houlton, proprietors of the stage line, to take charge of 
their horses at the Forks. In 1852 Mr. Brown purchased the 
Abner B. Hall farm, upon which he has since resided. When 
Mr. Brown bought the farm there was but little cleared upon it. 
He has since greatly extended the clearings and improved the 
buildings and now has a fine, smooth and well cultivated farm 
and a neat and convenient set of buildings. The soil is of an 
alluvial character, is free from stones and produces well. Mr. 



7g HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Brown has been town clerk and treasurer since 1858, and post- 
master since 1878. 

Mr. Charles E. Oilman took the hotel at the Forks in 1847 
and kept it for three years, when he moved to a farm on the 
ferry road. He remained there a few years and then removed 
to Houlton. 

Mr. Watson D. Bean came from Bancroft in 1848 and built 
a store opposite the Chambers' Hotel and was engaged in trade 
a number of years. He afterwards moved to Passadumkeag, 
where he died. Mr. Levi Ricker of Bangor took the Bean store 
in 1853 and after trading there three or four years, returned to 
Bangor. 

Mr. Levi B. Pollard came to Haynesville about 1855, hav- 
ing formerly kept the Ramsdell Hotel in Macwahoc. He after- 
wards bought of Mr. Asa Smith the Albion Haynes place at 
the Forks. Mr. Pollard was largely engaged in farming, trad- 
ing and lumbering and was a prominent business man for a 
number of years. He died at Haynesville some six years ago. 

Mr. Samuel Hodgdon was at one time one of the leading 
business men of the town. He came from Brewer about 1860 
and built a store near the hotel. He carried on a large business 
in lumbering and trading for a number of years and afterwards 
returned to Brewer. 

Mr. William H. Chambers came from Chester about 1865 
and bought the hotel of Mr. Richard Smith. The house was 
burned in 1870 and Mr. Chambers at once rebuilt. He died four 
years ago and his son, Mr. Alfred G. Chambers, now has the 
property, but does not now keep a public house. 

Haynesville formerly included Leavitt Plantation (No. 3, 
R. 2) which lies immediately north, but this township was set 
off in 1877 and now has no organization. The Military road en- 
ters Haynesville near its northwest corner and runs in a south- 
easterly direction parallel to and a short distance east of the 
east branch of the Mattawamkeag. A short distance below the 
Forks the road turns at a right angle to the southwest, and, 
crossing the Mattawamkeag, continues on in that direction 
across the town. Above the Forks are some very good farms 
along the Military road. In the northern part of the town the 
land is somewhat rough and broken and difficult of cultivation, 
but nearer the Forks it is much better adapted to agricultural 
purposes. 

The village of Haynesville is a neat and pleasant village 
with a number of very handsome residences, and is very pret 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 79 

tily located near the bank of the Mattawamkeag. The transfer 
of the large carrying trade and extensive travel from the Mili- 
tary road to the railroad has very much interfered v/ith the busi- 
ness of the tov^n. The population of the tovvm m 1890 was 280, 
and its valuation was $68,684. 



FORT FAIRFIELD 



Fort Fairfield is one of the historic towns of the County of 
Aroostook and its history dates away back to the stirring and 
exciting times of the Aroostook War. Indeed what may be 
called the "ancient history" of the town antedates that blood- 
less struggle by many years. The town as now organized in- 
cludes what was formerly Township D, Range 2, and also the 
township immediately north of it known in the ancient annals 
as Plymouth Grant. The earliest history of the present town of 
Fort Fairfield has to do with this last named township. In the 
year 1806 the good people of the town of Plymouth, Mass., 
vi^ishing to build a breakwater to protect their harbor from the 
surging waves of old ocean, applied to the General Court of 
that good old Commonwealth for aid in their undertaking! The 
State thereupon granted them a tovwiship of land to contain 36 
square miles in the far-off wilderness of the District of Maine. 

The resolve making this grant to the town of Plymouth was 
passed on March 4th, 1806, and the deed was executed by the 
authorized agents of the State of Massachusetts on December 
19, 1807. In this deed the grant is described as "a certain tract 
of land lying in the County of Washington, equal to the contents 
of six miles square as the same was surveyed by Charles Tur- 
ner, Junior, Esquire, in the year eighteen hundred and seven. 
Bounded as follows, viz.: — Beginning at a beech tree marked 
S. E. C. P., standing on the eastern boundary of the District of 
Maine, fifty Eve miles north of the source of the Schoodic Wa- 
ters, and running north, thirteen degrees east, six miles to a fir 
tree marked sixty one miles, thence running west, thirteen de- 
grees north, six miles to a stake, thence running south thirteen 
degrees west six miles to a maple tree marked S. W. C. P., 
thence running east, thirteen degrees south, six miles to the 
beech tree first mentioned, together with all the islands in those 
parts of the Aroostook River which are included within the 



&Q HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

aforesaid bounds, together with all the privileges and appurten- 
ances thereto belonging, excepting and reserving for the use of 
the Commonwealth, and as a common highway forever, the 
main channel of the said River Aroostook, in its course through 
the said Township, the said Township containing twenty three 
thousand and forty acres, including the River Aroostook running 
through the same, as will more fully appear on a Plan of said 
Township, now lodged in the Office of the aforesaid Agents." 

The deed conta.ned the usual conditions in favor of all set- 
tlers who might have settled on the tract previous to January 
1, 1784, (Th.s provision was made necessary by the treaty of 
1783.) and provided for the setting apart of lots for the first 
settled minister and for the ministerial and school fund. It 
also bound the grantees to "settle in said tract twenty families 
within six years, including those now settled thereon." This 
deed is signed by John Read and Wm. Smith, as agents for the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and witnessed by Geo. W. 
Coffin and Moses Greenleaf. 

It will be seen that the deed describes the township as 
surveyed by Charles Turner, Jr. It appears, however, by well 
attested documents that Park Holland also surveyed the town- 
ship Nov. 6th, 1807, which was previous to the date of the deed. 
Why the two surveys were m.ade in the same year does not ap- 
pear, but it is a fact well known to the older residents of the 
town that there were two well defined lines on the northern side 
of the town, each of which was afterwards claimed as the true 
line, and that important lawsuits grew out of this double line. 
The courts decided that the southernmost of the two was the 
true line. 

When the boundary line between Maine and New Bruns- 
wick was run, after the Ashburton treaty, it cut off a slice about 
half a mile in width from the entire eastern side of Plymouth 
Grant, as surveyed by Holland and Turner. The western line 
of the Grant remains the same. Hence, when Township D., 
immediately south of Plymouth, was afterwards run out, measur- 
ing six miles wide from the boundary line, it extended some half 
mile farther to the west than Plymouth, which accounts for the 
"jog" in the town of Fort Fairfield, where the two townships 
join. 

No authentic history that I can find places any white man 
on the town now Fort Fairfield previous to this survey of Hol- 
land's in 1807. The oldest settler on the town of whom we have 
any reliable record was Michael Russell, who came up the river 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 81 

from New Brunswick in 1823 and settled on the south side of 

the Aroostook River a short distance above the falls, on the 
Plymouth Grant. Other early settlers who came from New 
Brunswick and settled along the Aroostook River in Plymouth 
Grant, on the south side of the river, are the following: 

Name Date of Settlement 

Anthony Kean 1829 

Daniel Turner 1832 

William Turner 1832 

William White 1829 

Bernard McLaughlin 1829 

William Bishop 1831 

Amos Bishop 1831 

Job Everett 1835 

Thomas Bolier 1834 

John Lovely 183J 

Alfred Giberson 1837 

John Twoddle 1838 

Patrick Finlan 1839 

George Murcheson 1840 

David Ross 1841 

William Everett 1841 

North side of river. 

Peter Fowler 1827 

Margaret Doyle 1827 

William Lovely 1827 

Samuel Davenport : 1829 

Daniel McLfughlin 1831 

Thomas Wh'ttaker 1832 

James Rogers 1833 

Thomas Rogers 1833 

Charles Walton 1834 

Robert Whittaker 1835 

Richard McCarty 1836 

Joseph Davenport 1836 

Thomas Armsden 1836 

Justin Gray 1837 

Thomas Gibney 1838 

Henry Heard 1838 

Samuel Farley 1839 

David Boober 1839 

Charles Boober 1839 



82 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

William Houlton 1839 

Brinard Guigey 1840 

Edward Guiggey 1840 

Very early in the settlement came James Fitzherbert, af- 
terwards famous in the history of the Aroostook War, and set- 
tled at the mouth of Fitzherbert Brook, now called the Haines 
Brook, in what is now the lowervillage. His home was in 
Township D, as the Aroostook River here bends to the south for 
a short distance, then turning northward again and entering the 
Plymouth Grant. Fitzherbert was followed by John Dorsey 
and Benj. Weeks, who also came from New Brunswick and 
settled on the south side of the Aroostook River. Dorsey's log 
house was near the river, a few rods below where the railroad 
station now stands. Weeks' house was near the mouth of what 
was then known as the Weeks Brook, on the spot where J. A. 
Fisher's dwelling now stands, near the middle of the village. 

About 1830 also came David Burchell, J. W. White, an old 
English soldier, and John Rediker. These settlers all made 
homes at points near the river which was their only highway, 
as there were then no roads and the whole country was a track- 
less wilderness except where the logging roads of the lumber- 
men led in winter to the river. 

They made sm.all clearings and raised little in the way of 
crops at first, depending mainly for support upon cutting the 
shore timber and floating it to Fredericton, where they bought 
supplies and boated them back up the river to their homes in 
the forest. After a time they cleared sufficient land to enable 
them to raise a few oats and small quantities of hay to sell to 
the lumbermen who had operations in this vicinity. Up to this 
t'me the settlement was a provincial colony and the settlers 
acknowledged allegiance to the New Brunswick government. 
The land upon which they had settled was a part of the dis- 
puted territory, and New Brunswick claimed and exercised jur- 
isdiction over it. The time was near at hand, however, when 
this fair and fertile region was to become a part of Yankee 
land, and when the American Eagle could soar in triumph over 
the greenwood and perch undisturbed in the lofty forest trees. 

In 1838, Gov. Fairfield sent an agent named Buckmore to 
this region to ascertain what operations provincial lumbermen 
were making on the territory claimed by Maine. As much tres- 
passing was found. Sheriff Strickland and Land Agent Mcln- 
tyre started with a posse to arrest or disperse the trespassers. 

In February, 1839, the posse came down the Aroostook Riv- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 83 

er on the ice from Masardis, and camped at the mouth of the 
Little Madawaska River in the present town of Caribou. Mc- 
Intyre and a few companions came on down the river to Fitz- 
herbert's to pass the night. A large number of the trespassers 
had collected at Tobique (now Andover) and it is thought that 
Fitzherbert sent them isformation that the Maine officers were 
at his house, for during the night a squad of them came up the 
river and captured Mclntyre and took him away to Fredericton. 
Strickland fortunately escaped and started in hot haste for 
Augusta, leaving the posse in command of Capt. Geo. W. Towle, 
with orders to proceed across "the Reach" on the Aroostook 
River in the present town of Presque Isle, near where Jacob 
'Weeks now lives. There were some sixty two-horse teams 
loaded with men, arms and supplies. They went across the 
portage as ordered, but instead of stopping at the Reach, as 
soon as they struck the ice on the Aroostook they turned their 
horses' heads up river and dashed on in hot haste and made no 
stop of any length until they were back in their old camp at 
Masardis. A poet of the period thus describes this masterly 
"advance to the rear" of the posse : 

"Then shook the ice so smooth and even. 
Fast rushed the teams past Number 'leven. 
And ere the clocks had pointed seven 

They halted at Masardis." 

Col. McLaughlin, a provincial officer of high standing, and 
warden of the disputed territory, proceeded to Masardis and or- 
dered the posse off the territory, whereupon, in retaliation for 
the capture of Mclntyre, our brave troops placed him under ar- 
rest and posted him off to Bangor. Fitzherbert was also arrest- 
ed soon after and taken to Bangor. A part of the posse under 
Capt. Towle soon afterwards returned down the river and estab- 
lished a military post which they named Fort Fairfield, in honor 
of Gov. John Fairfield. The detachment was under the com- 
m.and of Capt. Wm. P. Parrott of Massachusetts, until Novem- 
ber, 1839, when Capt. Towle resumed command. They built 
two block houses, one on what is still known as Fort Hill, and 
the other on a knoll about a quarter of a mile distant, near where 
the covered bridge now is. They also stretched a boom across 
the Aroostook River opposite this last named block house, for 
the purpose of stopping and holding the timber cut by provin- 
cial operators, whom the State of Maine regarded as trespass- 
ers. 



84 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

The Maine posse remained at Fort Fairfield until rel'eved 
by United States troops in 1841, Capt. Towle having been in the 
meantime succeeded in the command by Capt. John B. Wing. 
In 1841, a company of United States Infantry came up from 
Hancock barracks at Houlton, under command of Capt. Van 
Ness, the second in command being Lieut. Ricketts, who after- 
wards as Major General Ricketts, won fame in the War of the 
Rebellion. General Ricketts now lies in an honored grave in 
the National Cemetery at Arlington Heights. The other officers 
were Lieut. Michaels, Lieut. McCall, Surgeon Coolidge and 
Major Graham, Paymaster. 

These troops built a stockade around the block house on 
Fort Hill, within which they erected quarters for the soldiers, 
and outside the enclosure they built a spacious and substantial 
building for officers' quarters and several other buildings for 
the Commissary and Quartermaster's Department, allso black- 
smith, sutler's store, etc. Mr. W. Holman Cary was sutler of 
the post. The stockade was built by standing timbers twelve 
or fifteen feet long on end in the ground, and on the inside, 
square timbers were laid horizontally one upon the other to the 
height of four or five feet. Against these timbers, on the inside, 
a thick embankment of earth was thrown up. All remains of 
the block house and also of the stockade have since been re- 
moved with the exception of the embankment, or parapet, whJch 
still remains. It is six sided and is something more than one 
hundred feet in length on each side. The building erected for 
officers' quarters is still standing in a good state of preserva- 
tion. It is owned by Dr. Decker and occupied by himself and 
other families as dwellings, and contains three tenements. 

The company of regulars remained until 1849, when they 
returned to Hancock barracks in Houlton. The attention of 
the people of Maine was thus called to this fertile region, and 
some of the original posse remained and took up land and made 
themselves homes. 

Mr. Joseph Fisher, an old and well-known citizen of Fort 
Fairfield, who died on April 15, 1890, came with the company 
of regulars in the capacity of waiter for the officers' mess. When 
the troops left, Mr. Fisher remained, and lived at Fort Fairfield 
until his death. , 

The clearings made immediately after the Aroostook War 
were all on Township D, which is now the south half of the 
town. In the meantime, the road from Presque Isle, or Fair- 
banks, as it was then called, to Fort Fairfield had been cut 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 85 

through by the State and settlers commenced to make clearings 
along the road. J. Tucker came from Orono and took up a lot 
near where the Union Meeting House now stands at the junction 
of the Presque Isle and Houlton roads, then called "the two 
mile tree," it being two miles from the river at Fort Fairfield. 
George A. Nourse of Hallowell, now a lav/yer in California, 
took up the lot which is now the Rollins farm. William Whit- 
ney and his two sons from Corinth made a clearing on what is 
now called Whitney Hill, about three miles from the village, 
taking up several lots. Levi Hoyt commenced a clearing about 
the same time on the west side of the hill. B. D. Eastman and 
his brother Otis settled on the lots next beyond, toward Presque 
Isle, and one Bragdon from Corinth, settled on the farm now 
occupied by Stephen Conant. D. G. Palmer and Jonathan Hop- 
kinson from Kennebec County, took lots next to the Presque Isle 
line, and Henry Currier commenced a clearing back in the woods 
north of the Presque Isle road. These men all came soon after 
the settlement of the boundary dispute and were the first Maine 
settlers on the town, the earliest settlers having, as we have 
said, all come up the river from New Brunswick. At about the 
same t'me a settlement was commenced at what is now called 
Maple Grove in the south part of the town, on what is now the 
road from Fort Fairfield to Baine. 

Sanford Johnson settled on what is now the Judge Cum- 
mings farm, E. P. Whitney on the James Johnson farm, and 
Hiram Stevens, who came in with the posse, cleared up what is 
now the Thurlough farm. J. Wingate Haines came from Kenne- 
bec County and took up the fine large tract now included in 
the splendid farm occupied by his son, A. L. Haines, the present 
member of the board of agriculture from Aroostook. 

Freeman Ellis first took this lot and made a clearing and Mr. 
Haines bought his improvement. Deacon Edward S. Fowler, 
Addison Powers, Isaac Ellis, Leonard Spooner and Freeman 
Ellis, all from Piscataquis County, took lots along south of Mr. 
Haines, away to the south line of the town. Deacon Fowler, 
Isaac F. Ellis, and Addison Powers moved their families to the 
town in 1843. They, with Freeman Ellis, made a chopping of 
forty-five acres in the adjoining corners of their four lots, eleven 
acres on each lot, but all in one clearing. They built a camp 
t"'ertv feet square, in which the four families lived while sep- 
a^'ate houses could be built, and in this camp the Congregational 
Church of Fort Fairfield was organized, in October, 1844. 

Gen. Mark Trafton of Bangor was sent in by the U. S. Gov- 



86 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

eminent in 1843 and established a Customs House at Fort Fair- 
field, where he remained for about twelve 3'ears, and then re- 
turned to Bangor. His son, John B. Trafton, then a young law 
student, came in the spring of 1844, and opened a law office and 
also engaged in lumbering and farming. Mr. Trafton has for 
many years been one of the foremost citizens of the town and 
also a well known member of the Aroostook Bar, as well as a 
prominent man in the councils of the Democratic party. We are 
indebted to him for much valuable information in regard to the 
early settlement of the town. The settlement increased very 
slowly for a number of years and v/as subjected to all the hard- 
ships and privations incident to a pioneer settlement in the wil- 
derness. 

During the time the troops were here the settlers did much 
of their trading at the sutler's store and after the dispute was 
settled traded down the river at Tobique and Fredericton. W. 
H. Gary, the sutler, remained and kept a few goods for a num- 
ber of years and was the first postmaster of Fort Fairfield. He 
afterwards sold out to R. & A. McBrien, who came from Houl- 
ton and traded on a somewhat larger scale. They failed about 
1850, and John McClusky, afterwards Colonel of the 15th Maine 
Regiment, bought the store and employed A. L. Wellington to 
carry it on. Mr. McClusky afterwards sold the store to John 
Allen of Presque Isle. Mr. Allen sold to A. C. Cary who opened 
a large stock of goods in 1863 and has ever since been one of 
the principal merchants of Fort Fairfield. 

Dudley F. Leavitt of Bangor, who accompanied the Maine 
posse in the capacity of storekeeper, secured the passage of a 
resolve in the Maine Legislature soon after the treaty, giving 
him some ten or twelve lots of 160 acres each in aid of building 
a sawTnill. He afterwards sold out to Timothy Frisbee and S. B. 
Pattee, who built a sawmill on the Fitzherbert Brook. A. P. 
Heywaod of Houlton bought Frisbee out and continued in part- 
nership with Pattee for several years, when he retired, and the 
firm became Pattee — Hyde. Mr. Stephen B. Pattee was a prom- 
inent citizen of Fort Fairfield. He was three times elected to 
the Legislature and was local agent for State lands in Northern 
Aroostook. He was appointed Deputy Collector of Customs at 
Ft. Fairfield in 1849, and held the office four years. He was re- 
appointed in 1861 and resigned after two years' service. He 
died at his home in Fort Fairfield March 2, 1866, aged 52 years. 

The first grist mill was built about 1858 by Randall and 
Foster from Montville. It was located on the east side of the 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 87 

brook opposite the Pattee sawmill. This was burned a few 
years ago and the privilege was sold to W. A. Haines, who 
built a new mill whxh he still occupies. 

The first school in town was a private school opened as 
early as 1845 by a Miss Thompson, in one of the tenements va- 
cated by the troops. Miss Polly Eastman also opened a private 
school about the same time in the Maple Grove settlement. Miss 
Heywood, a sister of Mr. A. P. Heywood, afterwards taught a 
school in the block house on Fort Hill and was followed by 
Miss Agnes Johnson, now Mrs. A. C. Paul, who taught in the 
block house in 1848. The block house was also used in those 
early days for holding religious meetings. 

We have stated that all the earliest settlers of the town 
came from the Province of New Brunswick up the St. John and 
Aroostook Rivers and settled along the banks of the Aroostook 
River. Some of these settlers had grants from the British Gov- 
ernment and many of them were squatters on what they sup- 
posed to be British territory. After the treaty of 1842, there 
was an uncertainty about the titles of these settlers who had 
thus without being consulted been transferred from the jurisdic- 
tion of the British Crown to that of the government whose em- 
blem was the Stars and Stripes of free Columbia. 

In February, 1843, when Edward Kavanagh was acting 
Governor of Maine, the legislature passed "Resolves authorizing 
the appointment of commissioners to locate grants and determine 
the extent of possessory claims under the late treaty with Great 
Britain." Under these resolves Gov. Kavanagh appointed Philip 
Eastman, John W. Dana and Henry W. Cunningham as commis- 
sioners. Similar resolves were also passed by the Legislature 
of Massachusetts, and Samuel C. Allen, John Webber and Sam- 
uel Jones were appointed as commissioners from that State. 
After investigating the claims of settlers on the St. John River, 
which was done partly in 1843 and completed in 1844, one com- 
missioner from each State came to the mouth of the Aroostook 
River on the 17th of October, 1844. Both States had, in the 
February preceding, passed additional resolves extending the 
powers and duties of the commissioners. The two who came to 
the Aroostook proceeded through all the settlements along the 
river as far up as Masardis, and carefully examined each settler's 
c^aim. Lots were set off to all settlers "whose improvements 
had been commenced within six years before the date of the 
Treaty of Washington," and also to those holding grants from 
the British Government. As an instance of the red tape re- 



88 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

quired In doing business when two governments are concerned 
we may here state that as the commissioners wished to obtain 
copies of the grants made by Great Britain, to aid them in their 
work, one of them, in May 1843, went to Fredericton bearing 
a letter from Gov. Kavanagh to the Lieut. Governor of New 
Brunswick, requesting copies of the grants. The New Bruns- 
wick governor declined to comply with the request coming from 
the State Executive, but suggested that the application should 
be made by the President of the United States, through the 
British Minister at Washington. In June, 1843, Gov. Kavanagh 
addressed a request to the Secretary of State at Washington, 
by whom it was presented to the British Minister, and by him 
transmitted to the home government In England. In July, 1844, 
the copies were furnished to the Secretary of State at Washing- 
ton and by him transmitted to the Governor of Maine, who sent 
them to the commissioners. All this formal correspondence be- 
tween two nations was required In order that an Aroostook set- 
tler might have a valid title to his farm. The "metes and 
bounds" were then set off and the settlers title was fully con- 
firmed. 

Very soon after the treaty the Plantation of Letter D. was 
organized. This included all the settlers along the Aroostook 
River in Township D, Plymouth Grant and Eaton Grant. Sub- 
sequently Eaton Grant was organized as Eaton Plantation, and 
Plymouth Grant as Sarsfield Plantation, Letter D alone retaining 
the old organization. Thus they remained until 1858, when 
"D" was Incorporated as the town of Fort Fairfield, and a few 
years later Sarsfield Plantation was annexed to it, forming the 
town as it Is today. 

Settlers from different parts of the State began to come 
Into the town soon after the treaty. In August, 1844, Charles R. 
Paul came from Solon and commenced blacksmithing In the old 
government blacksmith shop. Mr. Paul is still alive at the ripe 
age of seventy-two and is one of the sterling citizens of Fort 
Fairfield. His wife, Mrs. A. C. Paul, is a prominent temper- 
ance worker and an active member of the non-partizan W. C. 
T. U. 

The county settled very slowly until after the editorial ex- 
cursion of 1858, when quite a tide of immigration set in. Many 
lots were taken up in Fort Fairfield and adjoining towns and 
new clearings were made in every direction. Many of these 
new comers had not sufficient courage to stay and fight the 
battle to a finish, but most of those who had the required "sand" 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 89 

are today independent farmers with comfortable homes and 
"broad, fertile fields. 

The first schoolhouse in the town was built in 1859, on the 
hill about opposite the railroad station and about the same time 
the Union Meetinghouse at the junction of the Blaine and 
Presque Isle roads was commenced. 

During the three or four years immediately preceding the 
war the population of the town received quite an increase. 
Many new farms were commenced which today are among the 
finest in the town, new stores were opened in the village and 
the outlook was most encouraging. But in the early sixties, when 
the country called her sons to rally for the defence of the old 
-flag, many of these sturdy pioneers left their new homes and 
"fell in" to swell the ranks of the "three hundred thousand 
■more" who hurried forth to answer the call of "Father Abra- 
ham." The severe drain of the war was especially felt by these 
new Aroostook towns and, during its continuance, a check was 
put upon their growth and development. 

This, however, was more than compensated for by the 
good times that followed the return of peace, when a new im- 
petus was given to immigration and during the decade from 
1860 to 1870 the population of Fort Fairfield was more than 
doubled. From that time to the present, its growth has been 
steady and continuous. New business enterprises have been 
started from time to time and the fine agricultural resources of 
the town have been developed to a wonderful degree. Like the 
other towns In the Aroostook Valley, Fort Fairfield received a 
mighty Impetus from the opening of the railroad. A branch of 
the New Brunswick raUw^ay was completed to the village In 
1875, which entirely revolutionized the business methods of the 
town and brought the producers of this fertile region Into com 
municatlon with the markets of the outside world. 

Starch factories were erected and large tracts of rough, 
stumpy land, hitherto used only as pasture, were cleared and 
smoothed for the potato crop and then seeded down to broad 
fields whose clean and even surface was fitted for the working 
of farm machinery. Potato buyers for the outside market soon 
discovered the excellence of the Aroostook tuber and thus the 
bus'ness of shipping potatoes was established and today Fort 
Fairfield Is the most prominent shipping point for potatoes north 
of Houlton. 

The village of Fort Fairfield is mainly located on a high 
intervale on the south side of the Aroostook River, though the 



90 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

village corporation includes both sides of the river and quite 
a number of citizens live upon the north side. The plain upon 
which the business portion of the village is built is quite nar- 
row, the land rising somewhat abruptly at a short distance from 
the river, and the frowning parapets of Fort Hill overlook the 
main business street and remind us of the stirring times when 
two great nations were arming for a war about their line fences. 

Owing to the formation of the land the village extends for 
about two miles along the banks of the beautiful Aroostook 
River, nearly all the business houses being located on this one 
main street. Although the buildings are nearly continuous for 
the entire distance, yet the citizens speak of the upper and lower 
village, the dividing point being perhaps about by the railroad 
station, and Hair.es' Mill being the central point of what is 
spoken of as the lower village. The majority of the stores are 
in the upper part of the town. 

Hardly had this beautiful village got well started in the new 
era of prosperity following the advent of the railroad, when it 
was visited by a disastrous fire. In the spring of 1879, nearly 
all of the business portion of the town was consumed by a con- 
flagration which left only a heap of smoking ruins where a few 
hours before stood a thriving and prosperous village. It was a 
severe blow, but the citizens rallied at once and, in no way dis- 
heartened or discouraged, commenced to rebuild in a more sub- 
stantial manner. 

A second fire occurred in 1883, which swept over nearly the 
same territory and inflicted severe loss of property. Again the 
citizens went to work with courage and energy and erected the 
fine stores and blocks which now adorn this pleasant village. 

In an agricultural point of view. Fort Fairfield is one of the 
best towns in the Aroostook Valley. The southern portion of the 
town, formerly Township D, Range 2, is a solid block of ex- 
ceptionally good farming land, with very little waste territory. 
The surface of this tract is composed of swells of land, but is 
not broken by abrupt hills to any extent. It is well watered 
and is covered all over with large and well cultivated farms, 
occupied for the most part by intelligent and progressive farm- 
ers. The Fitzherbert Stream runs the entire length of this town- 
ship in a northerly direction parallel with and a short distance 
from the New Brunswick line. 

The northern portion of the town, formerly Plymouth Grant, 
and subsequently Sarsfield Plantation, lies for the most part on 
the north side of the Aroostook River, although the river enters 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK l9l 

the township well up on its western side, whence it flows in a 
southwesterly direction to the village, leaving quite a large cor 
ner of the township on the south side of the river. 

The town of Fort Fairfield was incorporated March 11, 
1858. In 1860, the population was 901, which was more than 
doubled in the next decade. In 1880, the population was 2807 
and the valuation of the town was $468,471. The population by 
the census of 1890 was 3526 and the valuation was $893,593. 

Fort Fairfield has a splendid future before it and its en- 
terprising and public spirited citizens are deserving of success. 



PRESQUE ISLE 



The present town of Presque Isle includes two entire town- 
ships and is therefore t^velve miles long and six miles in width 
-and contains seventy-two square miles. The south half of the 
town was originally Letter F, Range 2, and the north half was 
Letter G, in the same range. 

Until 1883, Presque Isle comprised but one township — Let- 
ter F, the north half of the present town, or Letter G, being 
"known for some years previous to that time as the good town of 
Maysville. 

The first settler who established himself permanently upon 
Letter F township was Mr. Dennis Fairbanks, who cut the first 
tree on the territory now included in the village of Presque Isle 
about the year 1828. Mr. Fairbanks was formerly engaged in 
trade in the town of Troy, in Waldo County, to which place he 
removed from Winthrop about 1825. His brother, Col. Joseph 
Fairbanks, came to Farmington as early as 1793, and continued 
to reside in that town until his death by a fall from a wagon, 
on Sept. 12, 1831. Joseph Fairbanks was a prominent citizen 
of the town, holding numerous military and civil offices and 
twice represented his town in the General Court of Massachu- 
setts. He was also a member of the Senate of Maine in 1824. 

Soon after coming to Letter F, Mr. Dennis Fairbanks made 
a clearing on the bank of Presque Isle Stream near the present 
m.ill site, and afterwards obtained from the State a grant of a 
mile square of land, running to the north line of the township, 
on condition that he would settle upon the tract and build a saw 
mill and grist mill upon the Presque Isle stream. He then 



n HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK: 

moved his family to his new home and commenced the erectioTi' 
of the mill. The machinery for his mill was loaded upon two 
batteaux at Old Town and two men poled each batteau up the 
Penobscot to its head waters, hauled across the portage to the 
Aroostook, boated down the Aroostook to the mouth of the- 
Presque Isle Stream and then poled up that stream to the mill 
site. 

Robert McCann, an adopted son of Mr. Fairbanks, helped 
pole one of these boats. He made a small clearing on the hill 
east of the village, on what is now known as the Henry Piersoii 
farm (now Charles Phair farm) and built the timber house now- 
standing on this farm. Mr. McCann afterward removed to what 
is now Garfield Plantation, adjoining the town of Ashland. 

Mr. Veranes Chandler came to the town in 1834 and is still 
living a short distance from the village. At that time Mr. Story 
Hooper lived in a log house at the mouth of Presque Isle Stream 
in Letter G, on "the point" of what is now known as the Parsons 
intervale. Mr. Chandler and Mr. Silas Blodgett, who came about 
the same time, kept bachelor's hall in the house built by Robert 
McCann, and in 1839, Mr. Chandler married Elizabeth, daughter 
of Nehemiah Hooper, and sister of Story Hooper, and com- 
menced housekeeping. Very few settlers had at that time made 
their homes upon the town, though quite a number had mad^ 
clearings along the Aroostook River in the adjoining township 
of Letter G. (Maysville). 

The grist mill built by Mr. Fairbanks contained one run of 
stones and the saw mill was a primitive affair, with an up-and- 
down saw for sawing the lumber needed by the settlers in build- 
ing. In the grist mill all varieties of grain raised in the vicinity 
were ground in this one run of stones, and it may be easily con- 
jectured that the flour from which these early pioneers made 
their bread was not of the finest quality. To Mr. Fairbanks, 
however, does not belong the honor of grinding the first flour 
in Presque Isle, for, previous to the completion of his grist mill, 
Mr. Joseph Ireland had a hand mill, turned by a crank, and 
called by the settlers "Ireland's coffee mill," with which he 
ground wheat and other grain. 

As late as 1839, the road from Houlton was cut through no 
farther than "the creek" in Monticello, nearly thirty miles south 
of Presque Isle, then known as "Fairbanks." All north of that 
point was an almost trackless wilderness, with the exception of 
the lumber roads used in the winter's operations. In 1839, the 
road was cut through by thf State fron: Monticello tc Presque 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 93 

Isle and thence to Ashland and Fort Kent. The road from the 
Aroostook River to the St. John River, now the mail route from 
Presque Isle to Van Buren, v^as not cut through until 1843. 

In 1840, Mr. Leonard Reed came down the Aroostook River 
-with his family and household goods on a va.lt, from Masard^s, 
and built, on the site of the present Presque Isle Hotel, the house 
in which Mrs. L. T. Manson now lives, and there kept a hotel. 
His principal customers were the lumbermen going to and from 
the operations in the woods, and other temporary sojourners 
•connected with the lumbering operations, which then constituted 
the chief business of the County. 

There was at that time no store in all this region. Mr. Fair- 
banks kept a little tea, tobacco, rum, etc., at his mill, and sold 
them for pretty round prices. Mr. Story Hooper somet'mes kept 
a few goods in his log house on "the point" over in "G." 

In 1841, Capt. Moses Rose, Benjamin Whidden, Jas. Cloud- 
man and Emmons Whitcomb came in and settled along the new 
Toad cut through from Monticello. Mr. Whitcomb settled on 
■what is now the Cook farm on the Houlton road some two miles 
south of the village. 

The first clergyman who came to Presque Isle v/as Rev. 
Mr. Pingree, a missionary of the Method'st Society, whose mis- 
sion in those early years included Houlton, Patten, Masard's, 
Ashland, Presque Isle, Maysville and Fort Fairfield. This cir- 
cuit the good man made on foot through the forest, preaching 
at lumber camps and at the little detached settlements, traveling 
many miles on snow shoes during the winter months, and suf- 
fering many hardships. He first came in 1839 and remained 
upon this wilderness circuit two years. 

In 1842, the first mail came to Presque Isle. It was brought 
on horseback from Houlton once a week. Mr. Noah Chandler, 
afterwards proprietor of the "Line store" at Houlton, was 
Presque Isle's first postmaster. 

In 1843 Mr. Fairbanks built the two-story house now known 
as the Sumner Whitney house. About this time Mr. Eleazer 
Packard bought out Reed's hotel and afterwards sold to Mr. 
Sumner Whitney. He in turn sold to his brother, Jerry Whitney, 
who moved the original house a few rods to the north and built 
the hotel that was consumed in the fire that swept the village in 
1884. Mr. Sumner Whitney afterwards bought the Fairbanks 
house and there opened another hotel. 

The little village now was so near the north line of the 
town that its northern extension soon grew over the line and the 



94 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

first store established was on the adjoining township of Letter 
G. In 1842, or 1843, 

Messrs, Geo. W. and William Towle built a store near 
where Mr. Henry Dunn now lives. This, we are informed, was 
the first store north of Houlton, though previous to that time a 
few goods had been kept for sale in houses and outbuildings. 

We have been unable to fix the exact date of the erection 
of the first schoolhcuse in Presque Isle, but it was in the early 
years of the settlement and was what was known for years as 
the "Red Schoolhouse" on the Rackliffe farm, on what is now 
the Centre Line road. 

In 1849, a store was built by Sumner Whitney on the corner 
where Perry's Opera House now stands and was occupied by 
D. & A. W. Dudley. By this time settlers had gradually taken 
up farms in the vic'nity of the village and quite a little settle- 
ment had been made in the wilderness. The next store built was 
what was known as the Winslow Hall store, which was built 
by Dr. Edwin W. Dibblee, and was occupied by Mr. Hall and 
afterwards by Mr. J. W. Hines. This store stood on what is 
now known as Bolton's Corner on the west side of Main Street. 
Next in order was the Dudley store, now occupied by A. M, 
Smith & Co., which was built in 1855 by D. & A. W. Dudley, 
and which was spared in the conflagration. 

Dr. G. H. Freeman first came to Presque Isle in 1855< 
There were then but three stores in town and the village includ- 
ed some fifteen or twenty families. There was at that time a 
small schoolhouse near where Mr. A. E. Wight's house now 
stands. There were then no church buildings, but religious 
meetmgs were held in the schoolhouses. 

The business of the village was at that time almost wholly 
connected with the lumbering operations. Agriculture was in a 
very crude state. There were some very good farms, but no 
particular system had then been adopted in farming operations. 
As the little village was comparatively isolated, the people were 
thrown upon their own resources almost entirely for social en- 
joyment. Everyone was Intimately acquainted with everyone 
else in town and each knew aill about his neighbor's business 
and private affairs. They were a genial, good hearted, generous 
people and enjoyed themselves exceedingly in such society as 
they themselves made. This open, free-hearted, generous spirit 
is st'll characteristic of the place. Nowhere can a stranger 
sooner become acquainted and be placed at his ease and in no 
village of equal size will a hat, passed around for a worthy ob- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 95 

ject, be more generously filled than in Presque Isle. 

At that time (1855) J. B. Hall, Esq., was postmaster and 
had a small apothecary store not far from where Dr. Freeman's 
store now is. Messrs, Rowe and Freeman bought Mr. Hall out 
and continued the apothecary business for some years. 

In 1856 Mr. Hiram Brackett came to Presque Isle and 
bought the Winslow Hall store and went into trade. He failed 
soon afterwards and E. D. Jewett & Co. built the store owned 
and occupied by G. H. Freeman & Co. at the time of the fire in 
1884. Here Mr. Brackett commenced trading again, opening a 
stock of general merchandise. In 1857 Messrs. Rowe & Free- 
man built a new store on what is now Bridge Street, and Deacon 
Nathaniel Gammon built for a harness shop the building after- 
wards occupied as a store by Mr. Warren P. Pratt. 

In 1857 the old Academy was built near where now stands 
the residence of Col. C. P. Allen. 

In the fall of 1857 the Aroostook Pioneer, the first paper 
published in Aroostook County, was started at Presque Isle. 
This enterprise was due to the exertions of Joseph B. Hall, Esq., 
who was at that time Secretary of the Maine Senate. He con- 
ceived the idea while at Augusta during the previous winter, 
and persuaded Mr. Wm. S. Gilman, then a printer and compos- 
itor in the office of the Maine Farmer, to join him in the ven- 
ture. An old hand press and a set of type formerly used in the 
office of the Bangor Gazette were purchased and the paper was 
started in an office over Winslow Hall's store and proved to be 
a success. Mr. Hall continued to edit the paper until February, 
1860, when he sold his interest to Mr. Gilman, who in 1868 re- 
moved the paper to Houlton, where it has since remained. In 
1860, Mr. Hall commenced the publication of the Aroostook 
Herald at Presque Isle. In 1862 the Herald was discontinued 
and the material was removed to Portland, where Mr. Hall and 
others started the Maine State Press. 

In 1858 came the first editorial excursion to which we have 
alluded in a former chapter. The North Aroostook Agricul- 
tural Society was then in its infancy, but it had already com- 
menced the good work of aiding in the development of Aroos- 
took's resources, in which work it has been a factor of increas- 
ing importance ever since. The glowing accounts given by the 
members of the press on their return from the Aroostook excur- 
sion directed general attention to this section and immigration 
began rapidly to increase. New buildings were erected in the 



96' HISTORY OF AROOSTOOKT 

village of Presque Isle, and new business enterprises were 
started. 

About this time Mr. C. F. A. Johnson came to the town and 
bought out Mr. Hiram Brackett and laid the foundation of the 
business which afterwards increased to so great an extent un- 
der the firm of Johnson & Judd and later that of Johnson & Phair. 

The town of Presque Isle was incorporated April 4, 1859, 
The census of 1860 showed a population of 723. This in 1870 
had increased to 970 and in 1880 to 1305. In 1860 the total val- 
uation of the town was $79,874. This considerably more than 
doubled during the next decade, and in 1870 the valuation was 
$180,786, and in 1880 it had increased to $339,325. 

In 1860, the village met with its first disaster. On the 13th 
of May of that year almost the entire northern part of the town 
was consumed by fire. Nineteen buildings were burned .and the 
loss was estimated by the Pioneer at $25,000. Nothing daunt- 
ed, however, by this severe blow, the citizens went courageously 
to work and rebuilt the burnt district and the business of the 
town continued to increase. 

During the war immigration to the County was almost whol- 
ly stopped and Presque Isle, in common with the other Aroos- 
took towns, sent a goodly number of her stalwart sons to fight 
for the old flag. In the winter of 1863, the mills built by Den- 
nis Fairbanks were burned. Some time previous to this Mr. 
Fairbanks had sold the mills to Mr. John Allen and left the 
town. He went some distance up the Tobique River, in New 
Brunswick, where he continued to reside until his death. Mrs, 
Fairbanks lived in Presque Isle and vicinity until about 1870, 
when she died at the home of Mr. Columbus Hayford, of Mays- 
ville, at the advanced age of 93 years. 

In 1864, Mr. Sidney Cook purchased the mill privilege and 
rebuilt the mills at an expense of $20,000. 

In August, 1863, Mr. Daniel Stickney commenced the pub- 
lication of the Loyal Sunrise at Presque Isle. Mr. Stickney was 
an able and forcible writer, fearlessly and mercilessly opposing 
any movement which he thought was wrong and courageously 
supporting any measure which he regarded as right, without 
considering whether his course was popular or otherwise. By 
his energy and the vigorous and persistent manner in which he 
presented the claims and advantages of Aroostook he did much 
toward the development of this section of the County. In 1868, 
Mr. Stickney sold the Sunrise to Messrs. Glidden & Rowell, 
but continued to edit the paper for some time afterwards. In 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 97 

1876 the Sunrise was moved to Fort Fairfield and its publica- 
tion was soon afterwards discontinued. Mr. Stickney, though 
now upwards of eighty years old, is still hale and hearty and 
his occasional articles written for various Ma'.ne papers give 
evidence that his mental vigor is by no mear.s impaired. He 
is at present residing at Hotel Long in Buckfield, and is enjoy- 
ing a vigorous old age. 

After the close of the war, new settlers began to come to 
the town and new business enterprises were established. Pro- 
jects for a direct line of railroad, to connect with the European 
and North American Railway at Mattawamkeag, now began to 
be agitated and it was ardently hoped at the time that the road 
would be built, and the Aroostook Valley thus be directly con- 
nected with the outside world. These hopes, however, were 
doomed to be long unrealized, but the prospect is now very en- 
couraging that a direct line of railroad from Bangor will be 
completed in the near future. 

In 1874, the first starch factory was built at Presque Isle 
by Mr. Wheeler of New Hampshire. The factory was located 
near the grist mill and was run by water power. The farmers 
in the vicinity contracted to plant a satisfactory number of 
acres for a term of five years and to deliver the potatoes at the 
factory for twenty-five cents per bushel. The business was a 
remunerative one for the proprietors of the factory, as starch 
brought a high price that year, and the profit on the first year's 
output paid the entire cost of the plant. It was also a profitable 
business for the farmers and has so continued until the present 
day. 

The next year the Aroostook Starch Co., a stock company, 
.at the head of which was the enterprising firm of Johnson & 
Phair, of Presque Isle, built the Maysville factory at the Aroos- 
took Bridge and large quantities of potatoes were raised for the 
two factories. The business has continued to increase until 
now Hon. Thos. H. Phair owns and operates seven factories in 
this and adjoining towns, at which in some years he manufac- 
tures nearly 1500 tons of starch. This industry gave a new im- 
petus to business and not only largely benefited the farmers, 
but aided to a great extent in building up the business of this 
prosperous and growing villgae. 

Early in 1881 the project of railroad communication by 
means of connection with the New Brunswick Railway began 
to be agitated. A narrow guage spur had already been run up 
along the Aroostook River as far as Caribou and it was proposed 
to continue this branch to Presque Isle. 



98 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Previous to this time the North Star, which was started at 
Caribou in 1872 by W. T. Sleeper and Son, had been purchased 
by F. G. Parker & Co. and moved to Presque Isle. This paper 
was ably edited by Dr. F. G. Parker, who entered heartily into 
the project of the proposed extension and aided much in awak- 
ening public sentiment in its iavor. A proposition was made 
by the New Brunswick Railway Co. to extend their line to 
Presque Isle upon payment of $15,000 by the towns interested, 
and also a guaranty of the right of way. 

A railroad mass meeting of the citizens of the towns to be 
immediately benefited was held at Presque Isle April 2, 1881, at 
which the matter was fully discussed, with the general feeling 
in favor of accepting the proposition. The result of the meet- 
ing was that on Apnl 8, 1881, the town of Presque Isle voted 
$10,000 and on the following day Maysville voted $5,000 in aid 
of the extension. Individuals in adjoining towns subscribed to- 
wards the expense of the right of way. 

On the 28th of May, 1881, Messrs. Isaac and E. R. Burpee, 
Directors of the N. B. Railway, accompanied by F. A. Wilson, 
Esq., of Bangor, as attorney for the Company, and Hon. Llewel- 
lyn Powers of Houlton, as attorney for the towns, came to 
Presque Isle, where the contract was completed. Work was at 
once commenced and was energetically pushed, and on Thurs- 
day, Dec. 1, 1881, the first train steamed into Presque Isle. The 
Messrs. Burpee and other gentlemen interested in the road were 
upon the train and were accorded a most hearty and enthus- 
iastic reception by the large concourse of citizens assembled at 
the station. On Jan. 8, 1882, the telegraph line was completed 
to the town, and Presque Isle was connected with the outer 
world both by rail and wire. A few years later the guage was 
widened and the road bed improved and placed in excellent 
condition and well equipped for the transportation of passen- 
gers and freight. 

New and expensive buildings were also erected at the sta- 
tion in Presque Isle and every effort has been made to render 
the road a first class line. The New Brunswick Railway has 
since been sold to the Canadian Pacific Co. and is now a part 
of that system. 

As was said at the commencement of this article the north 
half of the present town of Presque Isle was originally Town- 
ship G, Range Two, afterwards the town of Maysville. This 
is naturally one of the very best towns in Aroostook County 
for agricultural purposes and the entire township is now covered 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 99 

with excellent farms. The beautiful Aroostook River enters 
this township from Washburn some two miles from its north- 
west corner and flowing in a southeasterly direction, approaches 
within about a mile of the south line of the township. It then 
sweeps to the north and runs in that direct'.on entirely across 
the town, leaving it through its north line some two m.les west 
of the northeast corner of the town. The whole course of the river 
in the old town of Maysville is nearly twelve miles and, in ad- 
dition to its picturesque beauty, it sweeps through as fertile 
a tract of land as can be found anywhere in New England. 

Upon the banks of the river in this township the first set- 
tlement was made on the Aroostook River. As early as 1820, 
Lewis and Charles Johnson and a Mr. I^/IcCrea came up the 
river from New Brunswick and made a settlement a short dis- 
tance below the mouth of the Presque Isle Stream. The smoke 
of their clearing, as if curled gracefully upward above the lofty 
forest trees, was seen by no other settler in all this region. All 
.around them for many miles in every direction was the mag- 
nificent forest in which the deer, the moose and the caribou 
roamed at will and through which the beautiful river flowed 
placidly along, unvexed by the busy millwheel and undisturbed 
by the industries of civilization. 

They were soon afterwards joined by other settlers and as 
early as 1825, there were seven families living upon the town- 
ship. Previous to that time the wild lands of the State were 
owned in common by the States of Massachusetts and Maine, 
and in 1825 the lands upon the Aroostook River and southward 
were surveyed into townships and divided, each State taking 
alternate townships. 

Mr. Joseph Norris, who made the survey in that year, says 
in his report that he found Mr. Thomas W. Beckwith residing 
with his family on Township Letter G., Range Two, and that he 
was informed by him that there were six other families living 
on the township, "two by the name of Bradley, a Mr. Arnold and 
the names of the other three I do not recollect. I did not see 
or hear of any other families residing on any of the other un- 
divided townships, although a number of beginnings had been 
made the past season with that view." 

Among the earlier settlers, besides those already men- 
tioned, were the following who received titles to their lots un- 
der the provisions of the treaty of 1842, they having been in 
possession "for more than six years before the date of the 
treaty aforesaid," (viz.) : Isaac Morris, John Nichols, James 



100 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Nichols, Andrew Scott, William Pyle, Isaac Thomas, Olive Fen- 
lason. Hector Sutherland, Daniel and William Chandler, John 
Rafford, Jonathan E. and Ferdinand Armstrong, Thomas Fields, 
Benjamin Weeks, William McDougal, John Benjamin, Susanna 
Hooper (widow of Nehemiah Hooper), Thos. J. Hobart, Josiah 
Towle, Solomon Parsons, Geo. W. Towle, Thomas W. Navay, 
Ebenezer Oakes, Daniel Hopkins, Amos Heald, James F. Cur- 
rier's heirs, Peter Bull. 

The above list is taken from the report of the commission- 
ers who visited the township to determine the titles of settlers 
under the treaty of 1842. In their report they also mention 
Lewis Johnstone, Thomas W. Beckwith and John W. Beckwith 
and Lewis and Henry Bradley. Mr. Cyrus Pomroy was another 
early settler who made a farm on the north side of the Aroos- 
took, a mile below the mouth of Presque Isle Stream. 

Messrs. Josiah and Geo. W. Towle and Solomon Parsons, 
to whom were granted two hundred acres by these commission- 
ers, were a firm of lumbermen who made a farm on a beautiful 
intervale a short distance above the mouth of Presque Isle 
Stream and on this farm raised hay and grain for their lumber 
operations. The farm is now owned and occupied by Mr. Geo. 
A. Parsons, a son of Solomon Parsons, and is one of the finest 
farms in the town. 

As we have said before, all the earlier settlers on the town- 
ship came up the Aroostook River from New Brunswick and 
settled along the river bank. 

The first settler who came to Letter G "by land" and set- 
tled on the higher land away from the river was Capt. Henry 
Rolfe. Capt. Rolfe was a veteran of the Aroostook War and 
was one of the party who under Capt. Alvin Nye occupied the 
position at the mouth of Fish River in 1839. In June, 1840, he 
settled upon the lot upon which he now resides, which is on the 
road from Presque Isle to Caribou, about half a mile north of 
the postoffice at Maysville Centre and some two miles north of 
the Aroostook Bridge. 

When Capt. Rolfe took up his lot it was in the midst of a 
dense wilderness, with no road in all this region and nothing 
but a spotted line to guide him on his way to the river. The 
town then belonged to the State of Massachusetts and the few 
settlers along the river were still living in their log houses and 
did a large part of their trading in New Brunswick. The cus- 
tom was to cut the timber which grew upon the bank of the 
river and could be easily rolled into the water, drive it to Fred- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 101 

ericton and boat back the supplies purchased with the proceeds 
of its sale. Capt Rolfe used "to carry his wheat on his back 
two miles through the woods to the mouth of Presque Isle 
Stream and boat it up the stream to Fairbanks' mill, where it 
was ground and then boated down the stream to the Aroostook 
River and carried on his back to his home in the forest. His 
first clearing consisted of sixteen acres, one acre of which was 
planted to potatoes, one acre sown to wheat and the remainder 
to oats. At that time oats sold for 50 cts, potatoes 50 cis, 
buckwheat $1.00 and wheat $2.00 per bushel. Hay brought $20 
per ton and was purchased by the lumber operators. 

Capt. Rolfe bought his first bill of supplies of Dennis Fair- 
banks, paying $50 per barrel for pork, $20 for flour, $1.00 per 
pound for tea and $1.00 per gallon for molasses. As he used 
neither rum nor tobacco he does not give the price of those arti- 
cles. 

The first frame schoolhouse in Letter G was built by sub- 
scription in 1844, after the road was cut through from the 
Aroostook to the St. John Rivers, and was placed on the lot 
where the Maysville burying ground is now located. Previous 
to that time, however, a private school, the first in the town, was 
taught in a log house near the river by Miss Susan M. Hooper, 
afterwards Mrs. Daniel Duff. 

Mr. John Allen came to the town in 1840 and made a clear- 
ing on the farm now owned by Mr. Samuel C. Greenlaw, and 
moved his family to their forest home in 1841. Mr. Allen ob- 
tained possession of a large number of lots in the town, among- 
them being two treaty lots on the Aroostook River which were 
awarded to him in the report of the commissioners. Mr. Allen 
was for many years a prominent citizen of the town and amassed 
a considerable amount of wealth. He died a few years since 
at the home of his son in Riverside, Cal., and his remains were 
brought to his old home for interment. 

In 1843 Mr. Augustus Allen, a son of John Allen, took up 
the lot which is now a part of the extensive farm of Mr. Colum- 
bus Hayford and during the same year Mr. John Welts com- 
menced a clearing on the farm now owned by Mr. Frank B. 
Smith. After the State of Maine acquired possession of the 
town it was lotted for settlement and the lots were sold to actual 
settlers for the nominal price of fifty cents per acre, to be paid 
in road labor. Along the road from Presque Isle to Caribou the 
lots were soon taken up and the wilderness gave place to cul- 
tivated farms. Roads were also opened in other portions of the 



102 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

town and settlers came in and established their homes upon this 
fertile township. 

In 1858 a covered bridge was built across the Aroostook 
River a short distance below the mouth of Presque Isle Stream. 
This bridge was nearly four hundred feet long and cost $6,000. 
The State appropriated $3000 toward its construction and the 
balance was raised by individual subscriptions. 

The town of Maysville v/as incorporated April 4, 1859, and 
in 1860 the population was 665. It increased to 758 in 1870 and 
1141 in 1880. Maysville was wholly an agricultural town and 
though a town house and schoolhouse was built at a point on 
the main mail route from Presque Isle to Caribou, yet there 
was no village in the town, nor was there at the time of its in- 
corporation any store or factory of any kind within its limits. 
Its growth in wealth and population was due wholly to its fer- 
tile soil. By the State valuation of 1876 the average amount of 
property to every person in the town was about $200, which 
consisted almost wholly in farm property. 

Among the enterprising farmers who came to the town in 
the years soon after its incorporation were E. E. Parkhurst, 
George A. Parsons, Columbus Hayford, C. P. Ferguson, Simeou 
Smith, T. M. Richardson, Silas Southard, Thomas Harris and 
others who helped give to Maysville an enviable reputation as 
an exceptionally fine agricultural town. 

Mr. Daniel Duff was an early settler and a man well 
known and highly respected. Mr. Duff's farm adjoined Capt. 
Rolfe's on the south and his house was well known for its hos- 
pitable entertainment in the early days of the town. Mr. Duff 
was k'lled many years ago by a falling tree. Mr. Samuel C. 
Bennett is another of the early settlers. His farm is on the north 
side of the Aroostook River, his house being the first on the road 
after crossing the bridge. Mr. Bennett has been a much re- 
spected citizen of the town for many years and is still engaged 
in the cultivation of his fine farm, though somewhat advanced 
in years. 

In the winter of 1882 petitions were presented to the Legis- 
lature asking for the annexation of the towns of Presque Isle 
and Maysville. The business of the town of Maysville was al- 
most entirely transacted at Presque Isle village and the union 
of the two towns was a most natural one. The necessary legis- 
lation was secured and in March, 1883, the first annual meeting 
of the consolidated towns was held. 

A postoffice had been established in 1877 at Maysville Cen- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 103 

tre, three miles from Presque Isle village on the Caribou road, 
with Mr. Edward Wiggin as postmaster. The name of this 
postoffice has not been changed and still bears the name of 
Maysville Centre, though now in the town of Presque Isle. By 
this annexation the town of Presque Isle now extends from West- 
field on the south to Caribou on the north, a distance of twelve 
miles. It is bounded on the west by a portion of Chapman 
Plantation, the town of Mapleton and a portion of Washburn, 
and on the east by the town of Easton and the south half of Fort 
Fairfield. 

On the morning of the first day of May, 1884, the entire 
business portion of the village was consumed by fire. The fire 
broke out in the early morning in the second story of Johnson 
& Phair's large store on the corner of Main and Fort Streets, 
and, as there was a strong wind blowing and the means of ex- 
tinguishing were wholly inadequate, it soon spread until it en- 
veloped the entire business part of the town and as people came 
in from the farming districts in the morning they beheld only 
a heap of smouldering ashes where the night before had stood 
a busy and thriving village. The citizens soon ralUed from the 
shock of the great disaster and, before the ashes were fairly cold, 
temporary places of business were erected and trade was again 
resumed. The insurance companies were most liberal and the 
losses were soon adjusted in a generous manner and the citizens 
at once, with a cheerful courage, commenced the work of re- 
building. In a remarkably short time every vestige of the fire 
was removed, better buildings were erected, the streets were 
much improved and soon everyone came to feel that on the 
whole the fire was a blessing to the village. 

In the spring of 1885 the town suffered from another disas- 
ter, the covered bridge across the Aroostook River being car- 
ried away by an ice freshet. The town immediately voted to 
rebuild, and one of the best bridges in the County was built 
during the summer, at a cost of about $10,000. 

During all these years the town had been making steady im- 
provement in its social, religious and educational privileges. 
The first meeting house built in the town was the Congregation- 
al Church building, which was commenced in 1863. Since that 
time the number of church edifices have increased until there 
are now seven handsome and commodious churches in the town 
and each denomination is comfortably provided for. 

As the town became more thickly settled, new school 
houses were built and the present Academy building was erect- 



104 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

ed to supply the place of the old house which was destroyed by 
the fire of 1860. The trustees of the Academy had a fund from 
the State, which in 1883 amounted to about $5,000. In the 
spring of 1883, by a vote of the trustees, this fund was turned 
over to Bishop Neely to aid in the establishment of a perman- 
ent school of a high grade. Satisfactory arrangements were 
made and the following year the pleasant and commodious build- 
ings of St. John's Seminary were erected and the school was 
opened in September 1884, with about eighty pupils. In 1888 
the town voted to pay the tuition of the high school pupils at 
the Seminary and appropriated $1000 for that purpose, to which 
the State added $250 under the Free High School Act. A con- 
tract was made with the school and upwards of ninety scholars 
were sent as town pupils. This arrangement has been continued 
to the present time (1892) and for the past two years the pupils 
sent by the town have numbered over one hundred. The school 
is a most excellent one and in it pupils are fitted to enter any 
college in the land. 

There are in the village three graded schools, primary, in- 
termediate and grammar, and the number of pupils has increased 
to such an extent that additional room must soon be provided. 

There the twenty one suburban schools in the town, all of 
which are now supplied with good schoolhouses. 

After the annexation of Maysville, the town plan was adopt- 
ed and the schools were for nine years under the supervision of 
Mr. Edward Wiggin, during which time eight new schoolhouses 
were built and the others thoroughly repaired. 

The year 1887 was a busy one in Presque Isle village. Soon 
after .the fire of 1883, enterprising citizens, recognizing the need 
of more adequate protection, agitated the project of introducing 
a system of waterworks. A charter was obtained and the 
Presque Isle Water Company was organized in April, 1887. 
Contracts were made and the work of construction was immedi- 
ately commenced. The supply was obtained from -a clear spring 
brook, the dam being built on the high ground about a mile 
southeast of the village. The reservoir has a capacity of 25,000 
gallons and is called Mantle Lake, from the name of the con- 
tractor. The elevation of the dam above Main Street is about 
one hundred feet, giving ample pressure for extinguishing fires 
in all portions of the village. To guard against emergencies, a 
pumping station was built near the railroad station and provided 
with a Worthington pump, with quick steaming boiler. The cost 
of the works was $30,000. Thus the village is supplied with 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK K^a 

most excellent water, the analysis of the Secretary of the State 
Board of Health placing it among the purest. A well organ'zed 
fire company followed the completion of the water works _ and 
today Presque Isle is as well protected from fire as any village 
in the State. 

During the same year an electric light plant was estab- 
lished, with the Edison incandescent system, and the lights were 
turned on in December, 1887. A sufficient number of street 
lights were provided and the village is now lighted at the ex- 
pense of the town. 

The fine Bank block was also erected the same summer by 
the stockholders and C. F. A. Johnson Esq. It is a handsome 
brick building costing about $15,000. 

Hon. Joseph B. Hall, who, as we have said, discontinued 
the publication of the Aroostook Herald in 1862 and removed to 
Portland, returned to Presque Isle in 1884 and again started the 
Herald. In the meantime the North Star, which had been so 
ably edited by the lamented Dr. Parker, had been sold to Mr. 
George H. Collins, and Presque Isle now had two live newspa- 
pers, each doing its best for the advancement of the interests of 
the town and County. Both papers heartily advocated the build- 
ing of the Northern Maine railroad, as Mr. Hall during his for- 
mer residence in Presque Isle had ever worked for the building 
of a direct line to Aroostook. 

The history of the Northern Maine R. R. enterprise ?.s well 
as the other projects for a direct route to the County will be 
found in the chapter on the railroad projects of Aroostook. 

The First National Bank of Presque Isle was opened for 
business on January 2, 1888, with a capital of $50,000, and is 
doing a safe and prosperous business. Its president, Mr. James 
W. Bolton, is one of the most reliable business men of the town 
and the directors are all men of business capacity and integrity. 

Soon after the completion of the bank building, Mr. C. F. A. 
Johnson, who who had long been one of the principal business 
men of Presque Isle, decided to remove to the West, and there- 
fore sold his half of the building to Mr. George H. Collins, 
editor of the North Star, and that paper was moved to the most 
comfortable quarters of any newspaper in Maine. 

Hon. Joseph B. Hall, editor of the Herald, died at Presque 
Isle on July 5th, 1889. He had labored long and devotedly to 
obtain direct railroad communication for Aroostook, but was 
not permitted to live to see the fulfillment of his desire. Mr. 
Hall was Secretary of State for three years, 1860, '61 and '62 



106 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

and during his subsequent absence from the State he edited s 
number ot newspapers in the West. He was faithfully devoted 
to the interests of Aroostook and labored untiringly for their ad- 
vancement. After Mr. HaU's death the Herald was purchased 
by Mr. F. S. Bickford, now associate editor of the Brunswick 
Telegraph. He retained it, however, but a short time, and then 
sold it to Mr. Collins, who consolidated the two papers, and his 
paper is now published under the name of The Star-Herald. 

In the winter of 1890, a charter was obtained for the Mer- 
chants' Trust and Banking Company of Presque Isle and the 
company was organized with a capital of $50,000. During the 
summer of 1891, a handsome building was erected and fitted 
with every convenience for transacting the business, and in 
January, 1892, the new bank opened for business. Col. C. P, 
Allen, the first pres'dent of the Presque Isle National Bank, is 
president of the compnay and the directors are all men of care- 
ful business habits. 

A number of other fine buildings were erected in the village 
in the summer of 1891, among them being the extensive block 
built by Mr. J. W. Bolton on the corner of Main and Fort Streets 
and the handsome office of Hon. T. H. Phair, opposite the Bank, 

Presque Isle is well supplied with hotel accommodations. 
The Phair Hotel, kept by Mr. James H. Phair, is one of the 
most comfortable and homelike hostelries to be found anywhere 
in the country and offers superior inducements to those wishing 
a pleasant home in a healthy climate during the summer months. 

The Presque Isle Hotel, a fine three-story building on the 
site of the first hotel ever erected in the town, is also a first- 
class house in every respect and its landlord, Mr. Geo. F. Whit- 
ney, is well and favorably known to the traveling public. 

The Brooklyn House across the bridge is also a well kept 
hotel and is well patronized. 

The village of Presque Isle is now one of the most enter- 
prising and thriving villages in the State. Its business men are 
energetic and public spirited and are keenly alive to the best 
interests of the town. 

After the consolidation of the North Star and Aroostook 
Herald, a new newspaper enterprise was started at Presque Isle. 
No Democratic paper was at that time published in the County. 
A stock company was organized and the Aroostook Democrat 
was started in the advocacy of the principles of that party as 
well as the general interests of the town and County. The pa- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 107 

per is now upon its second year and seems to have secured a 
sure foothold. 

Socially, morally, educationally and agriculturally Presque 
Isle is a good town and has a promising future before it, when 
the completion of the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad brings it 
into more direct communication with the markets of the country. 
The population of the town by the census of 1890 was 3,046 
and the valuation $993,875, a greater valuation than any town 
in the County with the exception of Houlton. 



ORIENT 



The town of Orient, another of the coast towns of Aroos- 
took County, lies immediately south of Amity and is bounded 
on the west by the tovim of Haynesvllle, and on the south in an 
irregular line by the town of Weston. The Monument Stream, 
flowing here with considerable volume in a southeasterly course, 
forms the eastern boundary for some two miles and a half. This 
stream then empties into North Lake, which becomes the 
boundary for nearly a mile, the coast l"ne running nearly in a 
southerly direction until we come to the "thoroughfare," a narrow 
passage some half mile in length connecting North Lake w'th 
Grand Lake. The irregular coast of Grand Lake is then the 
boundary to the south line of the town. To speak more accur- 
ately, the channel of the lake is the exact boundary between 
the two countries, but this channel has not yet been definitely 
determined. The road from Houlton to Calais runs in a general 
southerly direction through the entire town, but the first settle- 
ment in the town was made near the shore of the lake a number 
of years before any road was built. 

The first settlers who made a clearing on the town were 
William Trask, William Deering and James Lambert. These 
pioneers came in 1830. William Trask was from Kennebec 
County and he made his first clearing near the head of Grand 
Lake, a short distance below the thoroughfare, on the farm now 
owned by George Bubar. Mr. Trask made a farm here on the 
lake shore and lived upon it until about 1856, when he moved 
to Minnesota. 

James Lambert came at the same time and settled on the 
lot next west of Mr. Trask. He remained on the lot until 1856, 



108 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

when with Mr. Trask, he removed to Minnesota. 

W.lliam Deering moved from Hodgdon to Orient in 1830 and 
settled on the lot near the shore of the lake on which Mrs. Jacob 
Peters now lives. William Philbrook had made a small chop- 
ping on the lot, but did not settle on it. This was in reality the 
first chopp'ng made upon the town. Mr. Deering cleared the 
farm and lived on it until his death in 1842. Jacob Peters af- 
terwards took this farm and lived on it until his death a year 
ago. His widow still lives on the farm. 

Mr. Abram Longley was one of the pioneer settlers of Ori- 
ent and came from the town of Dover not long after the settlers 
mentioned above. He settled on the line of the Calais road in 
the southern part of the town. A small lake in the rear of his 
lot still bears the name of Longley Lake and discharges its wa- 
ters through a brook into Grand Lake. Mr. Longley was a well 
known resident of Orient for many years, and his house, after 
the Calais road was built through the town, was a well known 
stopping place for travelers and for teamsters upon the road. 
The old house is still standing but is now unoccupied and is 
one of the old landmarks along the road. Mr. Longley cleared 
a large farm and planted an extensive orchard which still bears 
quite abundantly. Pie died on the old place some twelve years 
ago. 

Jeremiah Fifield cam.e from Lee in 1836 and made a clear- 
ing in the extreme southern part of the town. He remained but 
a short time and returned to Lee. 

Thomas and Robert Colyer were early settlers near the head 
of the lake and came not many years after Mr. Trask. Thos, 
Colyer settled on the lot on v/hich Mr. Wm. H. McAllister nov/ 
lives, and lived upon it until about 1856, when he removed to 
Wisconsin. Robert Colyer settled on the next lot north, where 
he made a farm and lived upon it until 1856, when he with 
Thos. Colyer, moved to Wisconsin. 

Mr. Edwin Deering is one of the oldest settlers now living 
in the town. He is a son of William Deering and in 1835 settled 
near the shore of the lake on the lot now occupied by Daniel 
Bartlett. Here he cleared a farm and after living on it seven 
years moved to the lot near the thoroughfare, now owned by 
Mr. George Bubar. Mr. Deering lived on this lot fifteen years 
and then bought the Longfellow lot on the Calais road in the 
south part of the town, where he has since lived. 

Mr. Marcus Peters came from New Brunswick about 1837 
ar.d settled on the lot south of the "Horseback," near where the 



HISTOTIY OF AROOSTOOK ltl9 

road turns from the Calais road towards the head of the lake. 
Mr. Samuel Newman of Amity had made a small clearing on the 
lot. Mr. Peters cleared the farm and lived on it until 1849, 
when he moved to Amity, where he remained but two years, 
and then returned to his old home in Orient, vi/here he continued 
to live until his death in 1878. Mr. Peters was a man of sterling 
character and was well and favorably known throughout southern 
Aroostook. He served as deputy collector of customs for six 
years, and was a leading citizen of his town. His widow and 
son Isaac Peters, still live on the old homestead. 

Patrick Hodnet came from Machias in 1840 and settled on 
the Calais road north of Abram Longley. He cleared a large 
farm here and lived on it until some ten years ago, when he 
moved to Danforth and died there. Mr. A. A. Robbins now 
lives on this farm. 

Mr. Israel Miller came from Nova Scotia about 1840 and 
settled on the lot next south of Patrick Hodnet. He cleared 
a farm and lived on it until his death in 1885. Mr. John Byers 
then bought the farm and died on it last year. His widow still 
lives on the farm, 

Charles Longfellow came from Machias about 1840 and 
settled on the farm where Mr. Edwin Deering now lives. Wm. 
Hawkins lived on the place a short time before Mr. Longfellow 
came. After living on the farm some eight or ten years Mr. 
Longfellow removed to Kansas. 

John Colyer came from Miramichi about 1840 and settled 
on the lot near the thoroughfare upon which Mr. C. L. Packard 
now lives. He afterwards sold the farm to Messrs. Gates and 
Wentworth of Calais, and removed to New Brunswick, where 
he died. John Colyer, Jr., settled on the lot on the Calais road 
now occupied by Mr. Victor Peters and Mr. Fred Smart. He 
made a clearing on the lot and lived on it a short time and sold 
to William Deering and moved to the lot next north of Edwin 
Deering's, where he lived many years. He then sold the farm 
to Abram Longley and moved to Haynesville, where he now 
lives. 

Jeremiah Sprague came from Houlton to Orient in 1845 
and bought part of the Trask farm at the head of the lake. He 
lived on this farm ten years and then removed to Houlton. He 
afterwards returned to Orient and died at the home of his son, 
"William Sprague, on the Calais road. William Sprague first 
came to Orient with his father in 1845. About 1860 he bought 
the lot on the Calais road, opposite Mr. Fred Smart's. Mr. 



110 . HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Sprague cleared this farm and lived on it twenty-five years. He 
then bought eighteen acres of Martin Longley near the turn of 
the Lake road where he built a neat set of buildings and where 
he now resides, but still owns the old homestead. Mr. Sprague 
has been a prominent man in the town during his residence there 
and held the office of postmaster for eighteen years. 

As we enter the town of Orient in coming down the Calais 
road, after passing through Amity, we very soon come to the 
"horseback," upon which the road runs for a number of miles. 
This is a peculiar formation and seems to have been placed here 
by nature for the especial purpose of providing a roadway. It 
is a natural embankment of gravel, with broad stretches of 
low, swampy ground on either side for much of the way and for 
a number of miles forms the only route upon which a carriage 
road could be built. 

Thomas Maxell was also one of the early settlers, and came 
from Gray about 1831 or 1832. He cleared a farm and lived 
upon it until his death in 1874. His son, S. P. Maxell, now has 
the farm. 

In the southwest corner of the town on what is called the 
No. Nine road, are a few settlers and some quite good farms. 

The town of Orient was formerly township No. 9, R. 1, and 
was incorporated as a town in 1856. Much of the town is still 
covered with forest and many of the farmers are more or less 
engaged in farming. Though there are some good farming sec- 
tions, yet the town as a whole would not rank as a first-class 
town for agricultural purposes. 



BRIDGEWATER 



The original settlement of the County of Aroostook was in 
a large measure due to the immense amount of valuable timber 
found in its magnificent forests and along the many grand rivers 
and streams flowing through every portion of this fertile region. 
Years before any settler entered upon the northern portion of 
the County for farming purposes, with the exception of the Aca- 
dian refugees upon the upper St. John, the camp of the hardy 
woodsman was built in the midst of these then almost intermin- 
able forests, and in springtime large drives of timber were float- 
ed down the many tributaries of the St. John which find their 



HISTORY OP AROOSTOOK 111 

source in this northern county. It was the valuable timber, cut 
upon what was then disputed territory, that led to the troubles 
that culminated in the famous Aroostook War which drew in- 
creased attention to the rich lands of northeastern Maine. The 
march of the "posse" that came hither in martial array to exter- 
minate the Bluenose trespassers not only hastened the settle- 
ment of the boundary dispute, but was also the forerunner of 
that more peaceful march which has ever since been continued — 
the march of the hosts of hardy pioneers who have come to this 
fertile region to make comfortable homes for themselves and 
their families. 

One of the finest of the many beautiful streams by which 
this great county is so plentifully watered is the Presque Isle 
of the St. John. Having its head waters in Fort Fairfield and 
the old town of Maysville, it flows southward through the towns 
of Easton, Presque Isle and Westfield, then turning more to the 
eastward it continues through Mars Hill and Blaine and enters 
the town of Bridgewater some two and a half miles west of its 
northeast corner and flowing across that corner, crosses the 
boundary line into New Brunswick about a mile and a half 
south of the above named point. Some three-fourths of a mile 
before it reaches the boundary it receives the waters of Whitney 
Brook, a strong flowing stream traversing nearly the entire ex- 
tent of the town of Bridgewater in a northeasterly direction, and 
a short distance below the junction of the two streams is a valu- 
able mill privilege. It was at this point that the first settlement 
was made in what is now the town of Bridgewater. 

The town comprises two half townships lying along the 
boundary line, and is bounded on the north by Blaine, and on 
the south by Monticello. On the west is the unsettled township 
of Letter D., Range Two. The northern half of Bridgewater, 
from which the town afterwards took its name, was granted by 
the State of Massachusetts in aid of Bridgewater Academy, and 
the southern half was granted in aid of Portland Academy. 

In the year 1827, Nathaniel Bradstreet, with his sons, John 
and Joseph, came from Palermo, in Waldo County, and pur- 
chased the mill privilege spoken of above on the Presque Isle 
of the St. John, a short distance west of the boundary line. The 
Bradstreets came up the Penobscot and Baskahegan waters, 
then crossed on the old trail to the St. John River, ascending 
that river to the mouth of the Presque Isle, thence up the stream 
to their new home in the wilderness. Here they at once pro- 
ceeded to build a dam across the stream and during the two 



ii2 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

years following built a mill in which they commenced sawmg 
lumber in 1829. 

Joseph Ketchum and James Thorncrait came from New 
Brunswick in 1829 and took lots west of the mill lot and com- 
menced clearing up farms. It is claimed that Mr. Ketchum cut 
the first tree upon the town for farmmg purposes, though the 
Bradstreets afterwards cleared up a large farm near the milL 
Mr. Ketchum cleared up about 75 acres on his lot and on the 
24th day of May, 1832, sowed the first wheat ever sown in the 
town of Bridgev/ater. 

In the year 1835 Mr. Joshua B. Fulton came from New 
Brunswick, and in 1840 bought a lot south of what is now 
Bridgewater Corner, on the road now running from Houlton to 
Presque Isle. 

At the time Mr. Fulton settled on his lot there was no road 
anywhere on the tov/n, and his nearest neighbor on the north 
was at Presque Isle, some twenty miles distant. The road from 
Houlton was cut through soon after and Mr. Fulton and other 
early settlers paid for their lands at $1.50 per acre in labor upon 
this road. Here Mr. Fulton cleared up a fine farm and reared 
a family of six sons and one daughter. Three of the sons went 
into the Union Army and all gave their lives to their country. 
Another son, Charles K. Fulton, is the present landlord of the 
Bridgewater Hotel, and John W. Fulton now resides in Gardiner, 
Me. The daughter is now living in California, Mr. Fulton 
still resides on the old place and is a hale old gentleman, and 
from him we received many reminiscences of the early settle- 
ment of this border town. 

In 1840 Dennis and Orrin Nelson came from Palermo and 
took adjoining lots on the line of the Houlton road. Dennis re- 
mained but a short tim.e and sold his lot to Mr. F'ulton. Orrin 
Nelson cleared up the farm next south of Fulton's and re- 
ftiained there until his death, and his widow and sons still live 
upon the farm. 

About this time Mr. John Young came to the town and set- 
tled near the mill and in 1846 removed to the town of Westfield, 
where his widow now resides. 

A few years after Mr. Fulton commenced his clearing, Jona- 
than Loudon, John Burns and Thomas Kennedy came from New 
Brunswick and settled along the Houlton road in the Portland 
Grant, now the south part of the town. Mr. Loudon still lives 
with his son on the old farm. 

Samuel Cook, Esq., of Houlton, was then agent for the 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 113 

trustees of the two academies and sold the land to settlers as 
they came in for $1.50 per acre. In 1840, Mr. Joseph Ketchum, 
who was then living upon his farm near the mill, bought 320 
acres of land directly north of what is now Bridgewater Corner 
and commenced making a clearing. Work upon the road from 
Houlton to Presque Isle was commenced about that time and 
Mr. Ketchum built a frame house upon his new lot and at once 
started in the business of hotel keeping. James Thorncraft at 
the same time left his home near the mill and went into the 
wilderness some ten or twelve miles farther north on the line 
of the Presque Isle road, where he took up the lot in the town 
of Westfield now occupied by Mr. John N. Trueworthy. Mr. 
Ketchum cleared up a farm of about eighty acres near the 
hotel which he continued to keep until 1854, when he moved to 
the next lot above and there made a large farm, upon which 
he resided until his death in 1878. The hotel passed through 
a number of hands and was finally destroyed by fire in 1861. 

In 1842 Mr. Samuel Kidder came from Kennebec County 
and took the lot next west of the Thorncraft lot, it being the 
third lot west of the mill. Here he cleared up a fine farm upon 
which he resided until his death in 1864. His son, James H. 
Kidder, afterwards kept the hotel at Bridgewater Corner and is 
the present efficient Register of Deeds at Houlton. 

Mr. Cyrus Chandler came from Winthrop in 1844 and 
bought the Thorncraft lot upon which he made an extensive farm 
and built comfortable buildings. Mr. Chandler died about two 
years ago, his estate now being owned by his son, Mr. A. L. 
Chandler, the present Deputy Collector of Customs at Bridge- 
water. 

Soon after Mr. Chandler came to the town, Mr. David Fos- 
ter, also from Kennebec County, came in and took up the lot 
upon which is now the farm of Joseph C. Smith. This is now 
one of the best farms in the town and has a very handsome set 
of farm buildings. 

In 1841 Messrs. Harvey and Trask bought the Bradstreet 
mill, and about the same time Mr. Wm. Hooper and Mr. A. T. 
Mooers commenced trading at the mill. Mr. Mooers remained 
but a short time and removed to No. 11, now Ashland, where 
he has since resided, and has for many years been one of the 
principal business men of that town. 

Mr. Charles Kidder, who has long been one of the prom- 
inent citizens of Bridgewater, came from the town of Albion, Ken- 
nebec County, in 1845 and worked one year for Mr. Cyrus Chan- 



114 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

dler. The next year Mr. Jesse Moulton bought the mill of 
Harvey & Trask and opened a store near the mill and Mr. Kid- 
der went into his employ as clerk, remaining in his employ for 
five years. Mr. Moulton built a clapboard mill which v/as af- 
terwards carried away by a freshet. He continued to operate 
the mills until 1851, v,^hen he sold the entire business to Mr. 
John D. Baird, and the place is still known by the name of 
Baird's Mills. Mr. Baird tore down the old mill and built the 
mill now standing, in which he put a gang saw and also a shin- 
gle machine. In 1856 he bu'lt a grist mill with two run of 
stones, one for wheat and another for buckwheat and feed. Mr. 
Ba'rd also continued business in the store until 1876, when he 
sold the mills and store to Mr. John E. Pryor. Mr. Pryor put 
in a rotary and another shingle machine and soon after sold to 
Hon. Geroge W. Collins, the present proprietor. Mr. Collins 
has made extensive repairs and additions to the mill and dam 
and has put in a planer, groover and other machinery. 

In 1850 Mr. C. F. A. Johnson came to Bridgewater and 
commenced trading and buying shingles in a part of Joseph 
Ketchum's house. He soon afterwards built the store in which 
the postoffice is now located. This store was built near the 
Corner and has since been moved farther down the road toward 
the boundary line. Mr. Charles Kidder was employed as a 
clerk for Mr. Johnson during the whole time of his stay at 
Bridgewater. Mr. Johnson did a large business here and was 
extensively engaged in lumbering. In 1856 Mr. Johnson re- 
moved to Presque Isle, where for many years he did a very ex- 
tensive mercantile and manufacturing business, forming a part- 
nership at first with L. S. Judd, Esq., and afterwards with Hon. 
T. H. Phair. The firm of Johnson & Phair were at one time the 
largest manufacturers of potato starch in the United States. A 
year or two since Mr. Johnson removed to Salt Lake City, 
where he resided for a time and is now very pleasantly located 
at Riverside, Cal., at which place he has purchased a large 
orange grove with a view of making a permanent home. 

Mr. Johnson sold his store at Bridgewater to Charles Kid 
der and Jacob Jewell, who continued in business for four years, 
when the store passed into the hands of Mr. Rufus Mansur of 
Houlton, who soon after sold it to Hon. George W. Collins. Mr. 
Collins moved the store to its present site and in 1861 built the 
large store on the corner afterwards occupied by Mr. Bedford 
Hume. 

Mr. Hume commenced business in Bridgewater as clerk for 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 115 

John D. Baird about 1853. He remained with Mr. Baird some 
seven years and then purchased the Rideout farm opposite Mr. 
Cyrus Chandler's. Here he commenced the business of farm- 
ing and trading, being extensively engaged in buying and ship- 
ping shingles. In 1865 Mr. Hume removed to Blaine and built 
at the corner the store nov/ occupied by Mr. John Bubar. Here 
he continued in trade for a year or two, when he returned to 
Bridgewater and purchased the Collins store in which he con- 
tinued to tade until his death something over a year ago. He 
was largely engaged in the lumber business, and also owned 
starch factories in company with Hon. Geo. W. Collins in Mars 
Hill and at Clark Brook in South Presque Isle. 

Mr. Nathaniel Rideout came from New Brunswick in 1845 
and purchased the lot opposite Cyrus Chandler's. He reared a 
family of eighteen children, his son John remaining upon the 
old farm until 1860, when he sold it to Mr. Bedford Hume. 
Members of this family still reside in Bridgewater, and the 
annual reunion of the Rideout family is an event always looked 
forward to with much interest by the citizens of the town. 

One of the most stirring and energetic business men of 
Bridgewater is Hon. Geo. W. Collins, who is well known not 
only throughout Aroostook County, but also in other sections 
of the State. Mr. Collins came from the town of Ripley, in 
Somerset County, in the fall of 1860, and settled at Bridge- 
water Corner, where he leased the Johnson store and commenced 
trading. He soon afterwards purchased the store and a large 
tract of land adjoining. Here he built the new store and after- 
wards sold to Mr. Hume. After selling the store, Mr. Collins 
continued to do an extensive business of various kinds, being 
largely engaged in buying cattle and carrying on the large farm 
now owned by Mr. Fred Whited, He also had farms in Mars 
Hill. In 1871 Mr. Collins left Bridgewater, though still retain- 
ing much property in the town. He carried on business at a 
number of places and in 1876 returned and built a saw mill on 
Whitney Brook, at Bridgewater Centre. This mill had an up and 
down saw and shingle machine and was run by water power. 
He also built at the same place a tannery for the manufacture of 
upper leather, but had just got it in successful operation when 
it was entirely consumed by fire. He then sold the saw mill to 
Mr. T. G. Huntington and in a short time afterwards that was 
also burned. Mr. Collins then built a new mill near the site 
of the one burned and afterwards sold it to Mr. C. P. Church. 
He also built a new tannery for the manufacture of sole leather 



116 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

and this too he afterwards sold to Mr. Church. In 1882 Mr. 
Collins built a steam shingle mill at Bridgewater Centre, which 
he still owns and operates. In 1878 Mr. Geo. Hibbard built the 
starch factory at the Centre which three years later Mr. Collins 
purchased and still owns. In 1886 Mr. Collins purchased the 
Baird mills at the boundary line and here he still does a large 
business. 

As a farming town Bridgewater is naturally well up on the 
list of good towns in Aroostook and only needs proper means 
of communication with the outside v^-orld to make it a live and 
prosperous town. The stage road from Houlton to Presque Isle 
runs in almost a due north course through the middle of the 
town and there are fine farms along this road for the entire dis- 
tance. From the Corner a road runs east to Baird's Mills near 
the boundary line. This is a very fine and well kept road and 
runs through a grand farming section. A substantial bridge 
some four hundred feet long is built across the stream above 
the mill and after crossing this bridge the road continues on 
away to the St. John River. A railroad is already in contempla- 
tion from Woodstock to Baird's Mills on the New Brunswick 
side and a subsidy of $100,000 has already been obtained from 
the Provincial government. Should this road be built it would 
be of great benefit to the town, but its value would be as nothing 
compared with that of a road directly across our own soil to our 
own markets. The road from Woodstock would make of Baird's 
Mills virtually a Provincial village, while the building of a direct 
line would infuse into it the Yankee push and enterprise needed 
to make it a wide-awake place. Nature has done much for it, 
and it only remains for the railroad across Maine soil, and the 
business enterprises sure to be built up by Maine citizens to do 
the rest. A large portion of the western part of the town is still 
unsettled and is yet covered with its original forest growth. In 
this section there are grand swells of fine farming land which 
some day will be cleared up and made to support a much larger 
population than the town has today. Throughout all this forest 
tract there is still much good lumber and a large extent of this 
portion of the town is still in the hands of proprietors. The 
trustees of the academies held the land with the exception of 
what was sold to settlers until about 1856 when the Bridgewa- 
ter grant was sold by the State for taxes and was bought by 
Isaac R. Clark of Bangor, who afterwards sold it to John D. 
Baird. Of this tract Hon. George W. Collins afterwards bought 
some 6,000 acres. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 117 

Bridge-water was incorporated as a town in 1858. The pop- 
ulation increased from 143 in 1850 to 722 in 1880 and the recent 
census makes it together with the very few settlers upon the ad- 
joining township of Letter D., 030. The valuation of the town 
last year was $148,354, and the rate of taxation fourteen mills 
on the dollar. 



CARIBOU 



Caribou is one of the busiest and most- thriving villages in 
Maine. Its situation is picturesque and reminds one of a Swiss 
village, as a large part of the thickly settled portion of the 
town is located upon the sloping hills which rise from the river 
and stream and give to the village a most beautiful background 
as one views it on entering by the road from Presque Isle. The 
village is situated on the Caribou Stream, a short distance above 
the point of its confluence with the Aroostook. The town of 
Caribou, like Presque Isle and Fort Fairfield, comprises two 
full townships and embraces an area of twelve miles long by six 
miles wide. The township in which the village is situated was 
originally known as H„ Range 2. The Aroostook River enters 
this town on its southern border and flowing completely across 
the town makes an abrupt turn near the line between H. and I., 
Range 2, and doubling upon itself forms one of the "ox bows" 
so corhmon on this tortuous river, and leaves the town on its 
eastern line, flowing into Fort Fairfield and thence to the St. 
John. A strip containing 10,000 acres on the east side of this 
township, H., was years ago granted by the State of Massachu- 
setts to Gen. Eaton of that State for meritorious services ren- 
dered during the war with Tripoli, and this strip was known for 
a long time as Eaton Grant, and was afterwards organized as 
Eaton Plantation. 

As the granting of this tract of land connects Caribou with 
the early history of our nation, it will be interesting to give a 
somewhat detailed account of the circusmtances which gave rise 
to this action by the Massachusetts Legislature. Gen. William 
Eaton was in command of the land forces sent to Tripoli to unite 
with our fleet in bringing that piratical state to terms. Landing 
at Alexandria, he succeeded in forming an alliance with Hamet, 
the ex-bashan of Tripoli, who had been dethroned and expelled 



118 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

by his brother, and uniting his forces with those of Hamet, 
started from Alexandria on the 6th of March, 1805, on his west- 
ward march of more than 1000 miles. This march was attend- 
ed by almost unparalleled suffering, peril and fatigue, and on 
the 25th of April Eaton and Hamet arrived before Derne, the 
capital of a large province of Tripoli. In answer to General 
Eaton's summons for the surrender of the place, the governor 
returned the laconic reply, "My head or yours." On April 27th 
Eaton assaulted the city, the American squadron having ar- 
rived in the bay and taking part in the action. After a desperate 
contest of nearly three hours the place was carried at the point 
of the bayonet, the governor and many of his adherents fleeing 
to the desert. This, together with other successful operations 
on the part of Gen. Eaton, brought about the termination of the 
war and the release of a large number of American prisoners. 
On the 4th of March, 1805, the following resolve was passed by 
the Legislature of Massachusetts : 

"Whereas in a rising republic it is highly important to 
cherish that patriotism which conquers a love of ease, • of 
pleasure and of wealth, which prompts individuals to a love of 
their country and induces them to embrace every opportunity 
to advance its prosperity and happiness, as well by ameliorating 
the fate of those citizens whom the fortune of war has thrown 
into captivity, as by cheerfully contributing to its support and 
defence; And whereas the love of enterprise, when guided by 
a just sense of propriety and benevolence, may become the par- 
ent of many virtues and a state is sometimes indebted for its 
safety to the virtues and undaunted courage of a single man; And 
whereas the Senate and House of Representatives of this Com- 
monwealth are desirous to perpetuate a remembrance of the 
heroic enterprise of William Eaton, while engaged in the service 
of the United States, whose undaunted courage and brilliant 
services so eminently contributed to release a large number of 
his fellow citizens, late prisoners in Tripoli, from the chains of 
slavery and to restore them to freedom, their country and their 
friends; Therefore, Resolved: — That the corrmiittee for the sale 
of eastern lands be and are hereby authorized and directed to 
convey to William Eaton, Esq., a citizen of this commonwealth, 
and to his heirs and assigns a tract of land to contain ten thou- 
sand acres of any of the unappropriated land of the Common- 
wealth in the District of Maine (excepting the ten townships 
on the Penobscot River). And be it further resolved, that His Ex 
cellency, the Governor, be requested, as soon as conveniently 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 119 

may be, to cause to be transmitted to the said William Eaton an 
authentic copy of this resolution." 

This tract of land was surveyed by Park Holland and was 
conveyed to Gen. Eaton by deed dated January 28, 1808, and is 
now a part of the town of Caribou. 

In 1859, that part of "H., R. 2" lying west of the Aroos- 
took River and comprising a tract six miles long and about three 
miles wide was incorporated as the town of Lyndon, Eaton still 
remaining a plantation. There was also a strip of land lying 
east of the Aroostook River, between the river and the west line 
of Eaton Grant, which was not included in either organization. 
This territory was organized for election purposes, or, as some 
of the old settlers used to say, "for electioneering purposes," as 
the plantation of Sheridan. Township I, Range 2, lying north 
of Lyndon, was also organized as the plantation of Forestville. 
In 1869 the plantations of Eaton, Sheridan and Forestville were 
annexed to Lyndon, thus making that town to include the two 
entire townships of H. and I., Range 2, and comprising a tract 
twelve miles in length by six miles in width. The name of the 
town was subsequently changed to Caribou, by which name the 
village had always been known. 

The first man to make a settlement within the limits of the 
present town of Caribou for the purpose of making a farm was 
Mr. Ivory Hardison, who came from the town of Winslow, in 
Kennebec Co., in the spring of 1839 and took the lot on the line 
of the present road from Presque Isle to Caribou, now occupied 
by his son, Oliver Hardison, and Mr. Henry Fish. After taking 
up his lot Mr. Hardison returned to Winslow, and though he 
came back in the spring of 1842 and made a clearing on his lot, 
did not move his family and establish a permanent residence in 
his now home in the forest until the spring of 1843. 

In the meantime Mr. Alexander Cochran of New Brunswick 
had made a small clearing at the mouth of Caribou Stream and 
had erected a rude grist mill. 

In 1843 Col. Harvey Ormsby came from Denmark, in Ox- 
ford County, and took up four lots in the western part of the 
town near the south line. He was a very eccentric man, but a 
man of much energy and business ability. He engaged suc- 
cessfully in farming and lumbering for a number of years and 
then sold his property in Caribou and moved no one knew whi- 
ther. 

In the spring of 1843 Messrs Winslow and Hiram Hall 
came from Hartford in Oxford County, and settled a short dis- 



120 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

tance south of Mr. Hardison. Hiram Hall cleared the farm af- 
terwards known as the Tuck place, and built the large barn 
now standing on the farm. He afterwards removed to Minneso- 
ta. Winslow Hall cleared the farm nov/ occupied by his G. C. 
Hall, and after living upon it fourteen years, during a part of 
which time he was engaged in trade, removed to Presque Isle. 

In March, 1844, Hon. Samuel W. Collins and W. A. Vaughan 
came from Calais and bought of the State four lots each, includ- 
ing the present mill site and also the site of the Vaughan Hotel. 
They paid for this land one dollar per acre, three-fourths of the 
price being paid in road labor and one-fourth in cash. 

A blacksmith by the name of W.lliams then had a chopping 
of about four acres near where the village burying ground nov/ 
is, and David T. Adams had a small clearing on what is now 
the Moses Thomas farm. There was also a small clearing near 
the mouth of Caribou Stream. With the exception of these few 
openings, the territory now comprised in the village and vicinity 
was an unbroken wilderness. A.t that time Alexander Cochran 
had a small mill with one run of stones at the mouth of Caribou 
Stream. Winslow Hall lived where his son, Mr. G. C. Hall now 
lives, and had ten acres cleared and a small log house built. 
There was then no store nearer than Towle's at Presque Isle. 

Immediately upon arriving and locating their land, Collins 
and Vaughan commenced clearing away the forest near where 
the grist mill now stands, and hewing the timber upon the spot, 
before the snow was off the ground had the frame of the present 
grist mill up and ready for boarding. As soon as the ice left 
the river they towed a raft of boards up from Fort Fairfield and 
finished the mill. They had two run of stones and a cleanser. 
They hauled one set of stones from Lincoln to Ashland, where 
they placed them on a raft and floated them down the Aroostook 
River to the mill. The other set was towed on a raft up the St. 
John and Aroostook Rivers from New Brunswick. They com- 
menced grinding in the fall of 1848. They also opened a store 
gor, and afterwards bringing them in boats up the St. John and 
Aroostook, the New Brunswick legislature having passed a law 
in a room in the grist mill, at first hauling their goods from Ban- 
allowing goods to come through in bond. 

Among the first settlers who came after Collins and 
Vaughan were George and Cephas Sampson and Mr. Watson 
Starbird. 

In 1845 Collins and Vaughan built on the site of the present 
mill a large saw mill with one up and down saw and a clap- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 121 

board machine. This mill was burnt in the winter of 1848 and 
rebuilt in the following year. In 1863 the mill v;as again de- 
stroyed by fire and the present fine mill was built during the 
same year. 

The first school taught in Caribou was a private school 
started in a log house in 1848 by Miss I.-r.vy Ann Hardison, 
sister to Jacob iHardison and to Mrs, S. W. Collins. The liirst 
schoolhouse was built in 1851 on the spot where the present 
village schoolhouse stands. 

In 1852 Collins & Vaughan built a tannery on the Caribou 
Stream below the grist mill. This tannery was operated by 
William Farrell, who bought hides of the farmers and also of 
the lumbermen who sometimes drove beef cattle into the woods 
to be slaughtered. Mr. Farrell also manufactured the leather 
into thick boots for the lumber trade. Collins <k Vaughan also 
built a blacksmith shop the same year and employed Benj. 
Annis, who v.'as the first blacksmith in the town. 

They also built the first store in Caribou in 1855. The build- 
ing is still standing and is now occupied by Mr. John Anderson 
as a boot and shoe shop. 

No meetinghouse was built until 1860, when the Union 
house was erected, but religious meetings had previously been 
held in the schoolhouse. 

In 1858 Sylvester Washburn built a sash and blind factory 
rear where the present factory is located. It was afterwards 
destroyed by fire and rebuilt. The next year Mr. Washburn 
bu'lt the house afterwards occupied as a hotel by J. W. Gary 
and Harry Small. Th's house was burned some seven years 
ago, and has not been rebuilt. 

The second store erected in Caribou v/as built by D. F. 
Adams about the year 1860, soon after which another store was 
opened by Mr. Nathaniel Bartlett. In 1862 John S. ArnoM built 
the store now owned by Mr. Alba Holmes, and in 1867 Sawin 
& Teague started in trade. They first opened a store in the old 
tannery build'ng, and afterwards moved into the large new store 
built by Mr. W. A. Vaughan and now occupied by Samuel Tay- 
lor. Since that time the number of stores has increased until 
there are something over thirty in the village today. 

The first bridge across the Aroostook River at Caribou was 
built in 1863. The State appropriated one-half of the cost and 
the citizens contributed the other half. 

In 1871 Mr. Alba Holmes started the first potato starch fac- 
tory in Aroostook. The building was built by Mr. J. C. Barnes 



122 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

of Fort Fairfield for a woolen mill, but was never used for that 
purpose. A carding machine was run in the building until Mr. 
Holmes purchased it and converted it into the largest starch 
factory in the United States if not in the world. Mr. Holmes 
still continues the business of manufacturing starch, and dis- 
tributes among the farmers a large amount of money each year 
for potatoes. He also does a large business in the manufacture 
of cedar shingles and his enterprise adds much to the business 
activity of this thriving town. There are two other starch fac- 
tories in the town, one owned by Howe & Taylor, and the other 
by F. M. York, Esq., About 500 tons of starch was manufac- 
tured in the three factories last year. This was a light make, 
as the high price of potatoes for shipping prevented the factor- 
ies from receiving as large a stock as usual. 

In 1872 Rev. W, T. Sleeper commenced the publication of 
the North Star at Caribou. Mr. Sleeper at once undertook the 
work of making known the resources of the Aroostook Valley, 
and seeing the need of some better means of communication with 
the outside world, suggested the idea of building a narrow gauge 
railroad up the Aroostook River from Andover, N. B., to con- 
nect with the New Brunswick Railway which was then in pro- 
cess of construction. Mr. Sleeper first suggested a road with 
wooden rails, which idea was much ridiculed at the time. The 
articles in the North Star, however, attracted the attention of 
railroad men and the consequence was that the idea began to 
be earnestly considered. The outcome of the discussion was 
that a charter was granted by the Legislature in the winter of 
1873, and the Aroostook River Railroad Company was incorpor- 
ated. This company had the right to construct a railroad from 
the boundary line to Caribou with wooden or iron rails as they 
saw fit. The idea of the wooden rails was soon abandoned, and 
the New Brunswick Railway taking hold of the project, a nar- 
row guage railroad with iron rails was completed to Fort Fair- 
field In 1875 and by the energy and enterprise of the people of 
Caribou the road bed was made ready for the rails and the 
track continued to Caribou in 1876. 

From that date the growth of the town has been steady, 
healthy and continuous. The citizens of Caribou are an enter- 
prising, energetic people and are always awake to any move- 
ment which promises to add to the business of the town or to 
Increase its social or educational advantages. The town has an 
air of business push and the men of the town have that off-hand, 
breezy energy more often seen in the new towns of the far 
West. 



TftlgTORY OF AROOSTOOK 12^ 

Like other thriving villages in Aroostook, Caribou depends 
ior its support and for the sure basis of its bus'ness upon its 
grand outlaying agricultural region and upon the immense supply 
•of cedar and spruce lumber growing upon all the lands in its 
vicinity. 

No abandoned farms are found in this se-:tion, and a stran- 
ger riding through the country would at once pronounce it the 
home of a peaceful, happy and prosperous people. 

That part of the old township H., R. 2 which lies on the 
west side of the Aroostook River, and which once formed the 
town of Lyndon is a solid block of fine farming land with hardly 
a waste lot upon the whole tract. 

The road from Presque Isle to Caribou runs through this 
tract on a line nearly parallel with the Ar;ostook River, the 
farms on the east side of this road having a frontage on the road 
and stretching away back to the river. Hardwood Creek crosses 
this road about a half mile north of the Presque Isle Vme and 
flows down into the Aroostook River. A saw mill is built upon 
this creek, which is a great convenience to the settlers in the 
vicinity. Something over two miles from the Presque Isle line 
on this road is a post office which still bears the name of Lyn- 
don, the name of the old town. The o:fice is kept by Mr. G. C. 
iHall, a son of Mr. Winslow Hall, who was one of the original 
settlers of this region. 

The mail runs from Presque Isle to Caribou every morning 
and back at night for the accommodation of all the residents 
along the road, another office being established at Maysville 
Centre, three miles from Presque Isle village. The through mail 
between the villages is carried upon the train. 

The land included in the "ox-bow" formed by the Aroos- 
took River as it bends, and turning upon its course, runs south- 
ward again through a part of what was formerly Eaton Grant 
Is splendid farming land. About midway in this bend of the 
river, on a beautiful elevation, is the farm of N. S. Lufkin, Esq., 
one of the oldest settlers on the tract. When Mr. Lufkin set- 
tled here he could look down upon the village of Caribou and 
could see but five lights, and they made by tallow candles, 
while now of an evening he can look upon a thriving village with 
its streets and business houses lighted by electricity and the 
bright lights flashing from hundreds of windows of comfortable 
homes. 

The population of the section now included In the town of 
Caribou was in 1860 about 800. In 1870 it had increased to 



124 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

1410; in 1880 to 2756, and in 1890 to 4087, being the largest 
population of any town in the County. This large increase in 
population is in a great measure accounted for by the fact that 
the northern portion of the town is almost entirely inhabited by 
French settlers who are a very prolific people. The valuation 
of Caribou in 1880 was $337,388, and in 1890 $780,439. 

We append the following personal reminiscences of Mr. 
Jacob Hardison, one of the earliest settlers of the town. Mr. 
Hardison died at Caribou March 27, 1891. He was a valued 
citizen and was widely known as a man of sterling integrity 
and sound judgment: 

"In the spring of 1839 my father, Ivory Hardison, and my- 
self, then a boy 15 years old, with one or two other men, left 
our home in the town of Winslow, Kennebec County, Maine, to 
seek a new home in the wilderness of Northern Aroostook. 

"As there was no road from Houlton to Presque Isle at that 
time, our only way was to take the Aroostook road leading from 
a point in the military road from Mattawamkeag to Houlton, 
about seven miles north of Mattawamkeag through Patten to 
Township 15, Range 5, and from there to Ashland there was 
only a winter road. 

"Over these roads we managed, with no little difficulty, to 
haul our scanty supplies. We at last reached Masardis, the 
end of the road, having been five days on the way from Patten, 
a distance of thirty seven miles. Here we stopped a few days 
with the few settlers who had collected on the bank of the 
Aroostook River to rest and look for settling lands. 

"We soon decided to go further down the river, so sending 
our team back to Patten, we constructed a raft and packing our 
supplies on it, set adrift to seek a place that suited us better. 

"With the swift current of a spring freshet we reached the 
mouth of the Presque Isle Stream in one day. Here we met 
Mr. Cunningham, who was surveying on letter H., R. 2 (Cari- 
bou) about 12 miles below, and who advised us to go down 
with him. Following his advice we floated on down the river, 
landing at an old lumber camp located on the east side of the 
river on what was afterwards known as the Hall farm, which 
the English had occupied the winter before, but on hearing the 
clanking of arms and the tread of the State militia had fled to 
safe quarters, leaving timber cut in the woods, throwing logs 
from their sleds and leaving tons of fine timber on the landings, 
and even leaving their cooking utensils in some instances. On 
the landing just below their camp on the lot afterwards occu 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK ' 125 

•pied by father, was to be seen a large pile of pine timber that 
they left, which after the Ashburton Treaty, they were allowed 
to run down the river to St. John, by paying stumpage to the 
State. 

"We remained at this camp till a location was settled upon, 
which was soon done. Going about half a mi_e west of our camp 
we built a bark shelter and commenced to clear on the lot now 
occupied by my brother, Oliver, and Henry Fish. 

"Later we joined the surveying party and helped finish the 
survey of the township and locate the road as nov7 traveled from 
Caribou to Presque Isle. 

"In the iall we returned to Winslow, and in the spring of 
1842 father and I returned to Aroostook. Dunng our absence 
•a road had been partly constructed between Houiton and Presque 
Isle and we came that way, but before reaching Presque Isle 
the road was so bad that we were obliged to leave our wagon 
and pack our scanty suppLes, including a little corn and two 
bushels of wheat on our horses. Upon reaching the Aroostook 
Kiver in Maysville we followed it down to our new home. 

"We then set to work burning and clearing the chopping we 
had made, and planting our wheat and corn. 

"During the first four months of our stay we saw no one, 
but in the fall Harvey Ormsby and John T. Pike, who were also 
seeking hom.es for themselves, came and stayed w.th us several 
weeks. We had already commenced to bu.ld a log house, and 
our visitors helped us finish it. It was of squared timber and 
in one end had a huge stone fireplace that would burn wood four 
feet long. 

Having harvested our small crop of corn and wheat and 
hauled a large supply of wood to our door, we, in December, 
started for China, Me., where our family then was. 

"On Februray 14, 1843, we started again for Aroostook with 
our family and household effects. The fam.ily consisted of fa- 
ther, mother and seven children. 

"As no road had been opened from Presque Isle to Caribou, 
upon reaching the Aroostook River, we drove down it upon the 
ice. On February 28, 1843, we reached our new home, and if 
ever there was a happy family we were one that night. Mother 
cried for joy. We were "monarchs of all we surveyed." 

"We had no neighbors within four miles. Soon after our 
arrival the snow became very deep, and as we had no snow 
shoes it was impossible for us to get out of our clearing. Our 
supplies began to run short but we had the Canada corn which 



12S HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

we had raised the year before. For six weeks the bread, which 
was our only food, was made from meal ground in a small coffee 
mill. On the crust, in the spring, we boys hauled our first grist 
of corn on a handsled to the old Cochran mill, which stood at 
the mouth of the Caribou Stream. The original Cochran mill 
was a very primitive affair, consisting of one run of stone, which 
were split from a granite boulder on the bank of the river and 
rafted down. The bolt for separating the flour from the bran 
and hull was made of narrow strips of wood set up edgewise and 
set at an angle of 40 degrees so the flour would pass through 
and the bran and hull would pass down under the mill, where 
he kept a few hogs on the bran at the expense of his neighbors, 
who were ignorant of its quality. Mr. Cochran made the first 
opening in this town in order to get a mill site. 

"We made the first break in the forest of this town for the 
purpose of making a farm. On one occasion the Cochran boys 
went hunting and struck the trail of a caribou. Their dogs took 
the trail and run the caribou down the river on the ice. The old 
man at the mill heard the barking of the dogs and went to the 
river bank, and with an old fowling piece managed to wound the 
animal so that the dogs caught and killed the caribou as he 
turned up the creek, and from that event originated the name of 
Caribou Stream. 

"In March, Harvey Ormsby returned with his family and 
settled in the western part of the town some three miles from 
Our place. They, for a year, were our nearest neighbors. 

"During the summer the State grubbed the road as now 
traveled from the Aroostook River in Maysville (it having been 
built to there before) to Caribou Stream. In the winter of 1843 
Hiram and Winslow Hall, with their families, moved from Ox 
ford County and settled within half a mile of our place. 

"In the spring of 1844 our worthy townsman, S. W. Collins, 
and his partner, W. A. Vaughan, commenced to erect a grist 
mill which has since been remodeled, and is still standing upon 
the old site. 

"They also erected a saw mill which was afterwards burned 
and the one now owned by Mr. Collins was erected on the old 
site. 

"Our town grew fast and soon nearly every settling lot 
v/as taken. It was incorporated as the town of Lyndon in 1859, 
and afterwards changed to Caribou, which name the village and 
stream always bore." 

J. HARBISON. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 127 

WASHBURN 



The main stream of Salmon Brook rises in a beaut'ful lit- 
tle lake in the northern part of the town of P'-ham and flowing 
in a southeasterly course enters the town of V/ashburn near its 
r.orthwest corner. The east branch of Salmon Brook rises in 
the eastern part of Perham and flov;'ng southeasterly across the 
southwest corner of the town of Woodland, enters Washburn 
through its northern border, about a mile and a half from the 
northwest corner of the town. These two fine streams flowing 
in a southerly direction through the eastern part of the tovm of 
Washburn, gradually converging, unite in one strong flowing 
stream about a mile above its junction with the beautiful Aroos- 
took R^ver. On the western bank of this stream is a lovely 
plain rising gradually as it recedes from the water until it ter- 
minates in a gringe of green forest at the top of the gentle 
slope. On the eastern side of the stream, below the mouth of 
the east branch, the land rises somewhat more boldly, but by no 
means steep, and presents a clean, smooth, verdant slope, as it 
is seen from, the opposite side. On the beautiful plain upon the 
west side of Salmon brook is s'tuated the principal part of the 
pleasant village of Washburn, though the recent growth of the 
village has extended across the stream. 

The town of Washburn was formerly known as Township 
No. 13, R. 3, W. E. L. S. It is a single township, six miles 
square, and is bounded by Woodland on the north. Caribou on 
the east. Wade Plantation on the west, and has Mapleton for 
its neighbor on the southern border. 

The first settlers on the township, like those of nearly all 
the towns along the Aroostook River, came up the river from 
New Brunswick many years ago and settled along the river 
bank. 

The oldest settler of whom we can obtain any account and 
probably the first white man who made a home In what is now 
the town of Washburn was Nathaniel Churchill who came with 
his family from New Brunswick in 1826, and settled on what is 
now called the Stratton flat near the mouth of Salmon Brook. He 
remained there some five years, when he moved farther down 
the river and settled on Oakes' island. He continued at this 
place until 1833, when his wife died and he returned with his 
children to Brunswick. In 1839, having married again, he came 



128 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK: 

back up the river with his family and settled on the lot where"^ 
his son, Job Churchill, now lives, seme four miles down the 
river from the town of Washburn. When Mr. Churchill returned 
a number of settlers had taken up lots along the river and he was 
no longer alone in the wilderness. 

In 1837 Thomas McDonald came from Miramchi and set- 
tled on the north side of the Aroostook about a mile below the 
mouth of Salmon Brook. His son, Mr. John L. McDonald, still 
resides upon the lot which is now a handsome farm with com- 
modious buildings and fertile fields. 

Soon after that Wilder Stratton settled on the lot first taken 
up by Nathaniel Churchill and his children still occupy the 
farm, having a beautiful residence on the height some distance 
back from the river. Mrs. A. W. Stratton, an accomplished 
writer and a well known contributor to numerous publications, 
is at present living there. 

The first settler in what is now the village of Washburn, 
and the pioneer business man of the town, was Isaac Wilder, 
who came to A.roostook from the town of Pembroke in Wash- 
ington County, about the year 1840. Mr. Wilder remained for 
a time at Fort Fairfied where he worked on the barracks as a 
carpenter, then pushing on up the river he built a saw mill in 
the dense wilderness on the banks of Salmon Brook. At tliat 
time the only settlers upon the town were the few who were 
located on the Aroostook River in the southwest portion of the 
township. As late as 1844, in the report of the Commissioners 
of Maine and Massachusetts who in that year visited this sec- 
tion to adjust the settlers' claims, we find mention of but twelve 
of these settlers along the river bank in 13, R. 3, now Wash- 
burn. These were Peter Bull, Nathaniel Churchill, Jabcz S. 
Currier, Joshua Dunn, John Hicky, Lawrence Farrel, Wilder 
Stratton, Elizabeth, widow of William Mumford, Joshua Chris- 
tie, Job Churchill, Stephen Harris and Ebenezer Esty. 

The State of Massachusetts then owned the town, as the 
mother State still held each alternate township in this eastern 
wilderness. 

At the time of Mr. Wilder's coming there was no road in 
in the township, the river being' the only thoroughfare. The mill 
contained an up and down saw and clapboard machine. The 
boards and other long lumber were rafted in the water, and upon 
these were piled the clapboards, and the rafts were floated down 
the stream to the Aroostook River, thence down to the Aroos 
took Falls, where the lumber had to be taken from the water. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 129 

hauled by the falls, rafted again below and thence floated out 
into the St. John and down the river to Fredericton. 

With Isaac Wilder, came his brother, Charles Wilder, who 
settled and commenced a clearing near the mouth of the stream. 

In 1843, Charles 0. Stoddard came from Perry, in Wash- 
ington County, and settled on the bank of the Salmon Brook 
stream a short distance below the mill. In the same year Robert 
Wilder, brother of Isaac, came from Pembroke and made a 
clearing next above Stoddard, and with him from the same town 
came Samuel Bugbee, who settled on the adjoining lot below 
Stoddard. 

In 1843 also came Hiram Braddock. who moved from Cal- 
ais and made a home on the north bank of the Aroostook, about 
half a mile below the mouth of Salmon Brook. Soon after these 
settlers came they cut the road through from the mill to the 
Aroostook River at the mouth of the brook. This was for some 
years a road through the woods, hardly passable for teams in 
summer, and was not turnpiked until 1846. In 1845 the road 
was cut through from the south bank of the Aroostook, opposite 
the mouth of Salmon Brook, to what was then called the "State 
Road," leading from Presque Isle to Ashland. By fording or 
ferrying across the Aroostook, the settlers near Wilder's mill had 
communication by means of this road with Presque Isle where 
much of their trading was then done. 

In the winter of 1844 — 45 the township was organized as 
the plantation of Salmon Brook and the same year a school was 
established in the house of one of the settlers. Some three years 
later a schoolhouse was built near where the village cemetery is 
now located. In this house religious meetings were held from 
time to time and occasionally a faithful missionary penetrated 
these wilds and preached to the settlers. 

In 1850 a road was commenced from Wilder's mill toward 
Caribou. Later on this road was continued to Caribou village 
and is now a fine smooth turnpike running through a magnificent 
farming section. 

In 1850 Gould Crouse and his sons, Jerry, Abram and Wil- 
liam, came from New Brunswick and settled on the Aroostook 
River in what is now known as East Washburn. 

Joshua Dunn, a brother of Elbridge Dunn, Esq., of St. John, 
then lived on the lot which is now the beautiful homestead of 
Mr. Jerry Crouse, and sold the lot to the elder Crouse. 

In 1852 Mr. Theodore Wilder came from Pembroke and 
commenced the farm now owned and occupied by Mr. S. W. 



130 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Tabor, on a fine swell of land some two miles northeast of the 
village. 

Settlers came slowly for a time, a few making clearings on 
the new road toward Caribou, and quite a number coming after 
the Editorial Excursion in 1858, the reports of which made the 
country better known to the outside world. 

Isaac Wilder kept a few goods for sale at his mill, but no 
store was built in the town until 1860, In that year Chauncy 
Harris built a store, and in 1861 rented it to Mr. Nathan Perry, 
then from Bangor, who traded in it for a short time and then 
moved to Presque Isle. In 1865, Benjamin Wilder, a son of 
Robert Wilder, built another store where he traded until 1871, 
when he sold out to Nathan Perry, who still continued his busi- 
ness at Presque Isle, his sons attending to the branch store at 
Salmon Brook. In 1880 Mr. Perry sold out the business to 
Farnham Bros., who are today the principal merchants and resi- 
dent business men of the town. 

Isaac Wilder continued to own and operate the mill until 
1879, during which time It was twice burnt and rebuilt. In 
1879 Mr. Wilder sold the property to Messrs. Johnson & Phair 
of Presque Isle, and died not long afterward. This firm and the 
branch firm of E. J. Johnson & Co. continued to operate the mill 
and increase the business until the firm of Johnson & Phair was 
dissolved some three years ago and the property came into the 
hands of Hon. T. H. Phair, the present owner. 

The present village of Washburn has been mainly the 
growth of the last ten years, though the settlement received quite 
an impetus from the establishment of two starch factories, built 
by Mr. Miller of New Hampshire, the one at the village about 
1875 and that at East Washburn a few years later. Both of 
these factories are now the property of Hon. T. H. Phair. 

The town of Washburn was incorporated in 1861 and was 
named for Gov. Israel Washburn, from whom the town received 
a present of a library of two hundred choice volumes. By the 
census of 1880 the population of the town was 809, and by that 
of 1890 was 1097. The valuation of the town was $100,243, 
which in 1890 had increased to $215,341. 

Adjoining Washburn on the west is Township 13, R. 4, 
organized as Wade Plantation, but generally known as Dunn- 
town. The Aroostook River flows across the southeast corner 
of this township, and there are numerous settlers along the river 
on either bank. The road from Washburn to Perham crosses 
the northeast corner of the township. Farnham Bros, pur- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 131 

chased 10,000 acres in the northern part of this township some 
years ago and have a tract four miles long by one wide, along 
the Perham line already lotted for settlement, and a road run- 
ning through the middle of the tract on the line between the 
tiers of lots. These are all first class settling lots, and there are 
fifteen lots on the tract still unsold. They will soon run out an- 
other tract into 48 lots of most excellent settling land. They 
sell these lots for $3.00 per acre to settlers and make no reserva- 
tion of timber. Settlers are required to pay $50 down and are 
allowed all needed time on the balance if interest is paid. The 
southern part of this town is owned by the Dunns. The Aroos- 
took River runs for a distance of about five miles through the 
southeast portion of the township and on each side of the river 
are roads leading to Washburn village. The lots along the river 
are all taken and there are already some excellent farms. There 
are two schoolhouses in this part of the plantation and one has 
already been established among the settlers on the Farnham 
block. With the exception of the lots along the river and the 
Farnham lots the township is still in its wilderness state and is 
for the most part excellent settling land. In the southeast por- 
tion of the township on lots number 23 and 24 lying south of 
the Aroostook River is the deposit of iron described in the re- 
port of the scientific survey of the State of Maine. Should a 
railroad ever run in the vicinity these lands would probably be 
valuable for the iron ore, which could then be profitably worked. 
Wade Plantation was first organized in 1859. In 1862 it 
lost its organization and was not reorganized until 1874. The 
population by the census of 1890 was 158. 



SHERMAN 



The southern portion of Aroostook County comprises an 
area of five ranges of townships in width from east to west and 
extending about fifty-five miles northward from the County of 
Washington and the eastern shoulder of Penobscot. At the 
northern extremity of this strip, the county extends three ranges 
of townships farther to the west along the the northern border 
of Penobscot, and two townships farther north the southern line 
of the county extends across the entire State. The towns along 
the western border of this southern portion of Aroostook are 



132 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

watered by tributaries of the Penobscot, and it was the vast lum- 
ber business of the Penobscot that first induced settlers to en- 
ter upon the fertile lands of this part of the County. Lying 
along the western border of Penobscot County, the fourth town- 
ship north from the extreme southern line of Aroostook, is the 
goodly town of Sherman, one of the most enterprising as well 
as one of the best in an agricultural point of view of the southern 
Aroostook towns. The old West Aroostook road branches off 
from the Military road in the town of Molunkus, near the south- 
ern border of Aroostook and continuing northward through Mo- 
lunkus, the wilderness township of No. 1, R. 5, Benedicta and a 
portion of Sherman, then veers to the westward into Penobscot 
County and runs up through the towns of Staceyville, Patten 
and a portion of Mount Chase, re-enters Aroostook about mid- 
way of the town of Hersey and extends away north to the St. 
John River at Fort Kent. The length of this road from the 
"mouth of the road" in Molunkus to its terminus at Fort Kent, 
is upwards of 125 miles and it is now the longest stage route in 
the State. As early as 1832, this road was cut through nearly to 
the south line of Sherman, then known as No. 3, Range 5. 

In that year Mr. Alfred Cushman of Sumner, Oxford County, 
the pioneer settler of Sherman, came in and took up a lot on the 
west line of the town some two and a half miles north of the 
southwest corner. The town then belonged to the State of Mas- 
sachusetts and Mr. Cushman bought 200 acres of land, paying 
$1.75 per acre in cash and taking a deed from the Land Agent 
of Massachusetts. Mr. Cushman's lot was in the midst of a vast 
wilderness, the fair town of Patten and all the country for many 
miles northward being at that time covered with its original for- 
est growth and the country untenanted save by the crews of 
hardy lumbermen who had their winter camps along the rivers 
and streams which traversed this grand forest tract. Having 
made a small clearing and built a primitive habitation, Mr. 
Cushman next year moved his family to their new home. The 
road from Molunkus was then hardly passable for teams ex- 
cept in winter and Mr. Cushman and his wife and three children 
walked in from the mouth of the road, he carrying the fourth 
child, an infant, in his arms for a distance of eighteen miles- 

The lot upon which he settled was a beautiful slope of fine 
productive land and he at once went to work to clear away the 
forest and make a farm. His market was at the lumber camps 
nearby, and his hay and grain sold for remunerative prices. His 
first crop of hay brought him $25 per ton and the price for 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 133 

grain was in proportion. Mr. Cushman tells of enormous crops 
raised upon his farm in these early days, having one year 210 
bushels of ears of handsome corn on an acre, and raising 77 
bushels of fine wheat from one bushel of seed. The old gentle- 
man is still living upon the old farm, which is now in the midst 
of a beautiful cultivated section, with broad and fertile fields 
extending in every direction over the slopes that were covered 
by the greenwood trees when he first made his settlement here 
in the forest. Four stalwart sons did faithful service in the 
Union army and this old pioneer is now enjoying the twilight 
of life, tenderly cared for by his children and enjoying the re- 
spect of the community in which he has lived so long 

The year following Mr. Cushman's settlement the road was 
cut through nearly to Masardis, and in 1834 Mr. John Cram from 
Lowell, Mass., came in and took the lot south of Mr. Cushman's. 

In 1836 — 37 Mr. Cushman built the tavern stand near his 
house and here he put up travelers for about two years, when 
he sold to one Lewis and he in turn to Mr. Theodore Trafton, 
who kept the hotel until some twelve years ago. Mr. Cush- 
man gives as the reason for his going out of the hotel business 
that it was expected in those days that all innkeepers would 
keep a supply of liquor for customers, and as he could not con- 
scientiously do this he abandoned the business. 

Among the other early settlers of the town upon the old 
Aroostook road were Mr. Spaulding Robinson, who came from 
Sumner, Oxford County, about 1840, and made a farm near Mr. 
Cushman's and also engaged largely in lumbering and trade. 

Mr. Luke Perry and sons who came about the same time and 
settled near the south line of the town, and Mr. Richard Boyn- 
ton, who came from Alna a few years later. In 1850, Mr. 
Boynton built a hotel at the mouth of the road leading to the 
east branch of the Penobscot, which he continued to keep until 
his death and which is now kept by his son, W. H. Boynton. 
This hotel is about half a mile from the south line of the town 
and in spring and fall is filled with crews of lumbermen going 
to and returning from the woods, and does a large business. 
There are a number of stores and shops in the vicinity of the 
hotel, but the business centre of the town is now the village of 
Sherman Mills, something more than a mile farther to the east. 
In the northeastern portion of the town is a magnificent swell 
of land known as Golden Ridge, upon which are now some of 
the finest farms in this portion of the County. 

The first to enter upon this grand ridge of land was Mr. 



134 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Samuel Chandler, v/ho made a chopping in 1840. He did not 
remain, however, but sold his lot to Mr. Wesley Caldwell, who 
took possession the following year. Mr. Caldwell was a native 
of Paris, Oxford County, and moved to Lincoln in 1824, being 
one of the pioneer settlers of that town. He removed to Sher- 
man April 11, 1841, and commenced clearing up a farm on 
Golden Ridge. He raised his first crop in 1842 and the next 
year moved his family to their first home, which they reached 
on July 4th, 1843. They came across from Cushman's to their 
log house by a spotted line through the woods, as there was 
then no road in the township with the exception of the West 
Aroostook road, which had been recently built- 
in 1843, Mr, Joseph Dolley came from Lincoln and took 
a lot next to Wesley Caldwell's. Horace Morse and John Hale 
also came in 1843, and in 1845 Daniel Emery, John Scudder and 
George Davidson moved in on the Ridge. In the meantime a 
settlement had commenced at what is now Sherman Mills, and 
in 1843 the road from the Mills, running over Golden Ridge to 
Island Falls, was laid out by the State of Massachusetts. Very 
few additions were made to the settlement upon Golden Ridge 
until 1849, when Moses Perry, Charles H. Jackman and Joseph 
Morrison came in and in 1850 Daniel and Jonathan Sleeper 
took lots on the Ridge. 

In 1851, Mr. George W. Webber moved into the new set- 
tlement. Mr. Webber first came to Aroostook from New Hamp- 
shire in 1829 and lived for a number of years in the town of 
Linneus. He continued to live upon his farm on Golden Ridge 
until 1870, when he removed to the Mills, where he has ever 
since been engaged in trade. He was town treasurer of Sher- 
man for many years and is one of the oldest and most respected 
citizens of the town. 

The first Sabbath School in the town was the Union Sab- 
bath School, which was organized by the few settlers on Golden 
Ridge in May, 1844, and has held its meetings continuously un- 
til the present time, never having lost its organization. In those 
early years, before any school was established in the town, the 
children of the settlers were taught to read in this Sabbath 
school. 

The history of the settlement at Sherman Mills commences 
with the year 1840, in which year Mr. Morgon L. Gary, from 
Hingham, Mass., made a chopping of twenty acres- In 1841, 
he burned and cleared part of the land and built a mill near 
where the grist mill now stands. During the same year the 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 135 

road from the Aroostook road to the mill was cut through. 
Gary's mill which was built upon the Molunkus Stream and 
contained an up and down saw, was burned -in 1846 and Mr. 
Gary immediately rebuilt, putting into the new mill in addition 
to the saw, what the settlers called a "coffee mill," or a small 
mill for grinding grain. This mill he continued to run until 
about 1856, when he sold to Mr. Spaulding Robinson. In 1862, 
Mr. Robinson took down the mill and the firm of Robinson & 
Bean built the grist mill now standing, in which are three run 
of stones. Li 1863, the same firm built a new saw mill, with an 
up and down saw, lath saw and planer. 

Mr. Gary built the first frame house at the Mills in 1848. 
This house is still standing in good repair, and is occupied by 
Mr. E. A. Jackman as a public house. The postoffice at Sher- 
man Mills is also located in this building. The next house at 
the Mills was built by Spaulding Robinson in 1861. 

The growth of the village was slow during the years of the 
war, but with the revival of business at its close a new impetus 
was given to this new settlement. In 1867, Mr- Leonard C. 
Caldwell opened the first store at Sherman Mills in a store for- 
merly occupied by Spaulding Robinson on the Aroostook road, 
the building having been moved to the Mills. 

About the same time the parsonage was built and the houses 
of John W. Caldwell, Mrs. Perry, Mr. Gary and others. In 1868, 
the Town House was built on the east side of the stream and 
in 1869 the handsome Congregational Church building was 
erected. This church was organized in 1862 and Rev. W. T. 
Sleeper, now of Worcester, Mass., was its first pastor. In 1870, 
a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was organized at Sher- 
man Mills, a hall having been finished for their use in the sec- 
ond story of the grist mill. In 1872, the store now occupied 
by L. E. Jackman was built. The second story of this building 
is now used as a residence by Mr. George M. Frye. 

In 1876 the death of Mr- Spaulding Robinson occurred. Mr. 
Robinson had long been one of the principal citizens of the town 
and had occupied many public positions. He at one time repre- 
sented his district in the Legislature of Maine and was for many 
years local agent for State lands. His son, Mr. A. T. Robin- 
son, succeeded to his business, and until quite recently was en- 
gaged in trade at the Mills. He was a soldier in the 8th Maine 
Regiment and for ten months and a half was a prisoner at 
Andersonville. 

Another of the old settlers of the town was Mr. Isaiah B. 



136 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Foster, who came from Dover in 1844 and settled about a quar- 
ter of a mile from the Mills on the road to Golden Ridge. 

In 1877, Messrs. Merrill, Piper and Libby of Colebrook, 
N. H., built a starch factory at the Mills. Mr. George M. Frye 
afterwards purchased Libby's interest and he and Mr. Piper 
bought out Mr. Merrill. About the same time Mr- B. H. Towle, 
from Lee, built a tannery near the Mills. This tannery was 
operated uptil 1888, when it was destroyed by fire and has not 
been rebuilt. 

Previous to 1858, the entire southeast quarter of the town 
was still in its wilderness state, no settler having entered upon 
that portion of the town. In that year Mr. John Burnham set- 
tled on what is known as the East Ridge, taking the lot now 
occupied by Mr. John Scanlon at Woodbridge's Corner. With 
Mr. Burnham came George W. Durgan, Granville Franks, An- 
drew and Frank Sinclair and Albert Osgood, all from Bluehill, 
Hancock County. This party arrived at Trafton's on the Aroos- 
took road. May 20, 1858, and on the 22nd procured a guide and 
proceeded through the woods to the southeast part of the town, 
where they selected adjoining lots and, having built a camp in 
which they all lived together, went to work making a clearing. 

In the fall of 1858, Mr. Burnham brought his family to 
Sherman, but did not move to his lot until the spring of 1860, 
when he commenced housekeeping in a log house on his new 
farm. In 1868 Mr. Burnham sold his farm and bought the farm 
half a mile west of the Mills, where he now resides. 

Later in the year 1858, a number of other settlers came and 
selected lots in this part of the town, made small choppings and 
went out, returning the next year to clear up the land. Among 
these were Mr. J. W- Ambrose from Wells, York County, Benj. 
L. Sanborn, Ole Hanson, Ezra Curtis, Lysander Robinson, Daniel 
D. Cox, A. C. Verill, Deacon Thomas Ball, Cyrus Daggett, and 
a number of others. 

Most of these settlers moved to their lots in 1859. Mr. Am- 
brose took a lot in the extreme southeast corner of the town 
and in January, 1860, moved his family to the town, taking up 
temporary quarters in a little log house at the mill. Having 
made a small clearing and put up a log house, in the fall of 
1860 he placed his family and all his household goods upon an 
old sled, and with a yoke of oxen hauled them through the 
woods four miles to their new home. After paying the expenses 
of getting his family to Sherman he found himself possessed 
of just $33 and an old horse which he exchanged for a cow. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 137 

He has now a fine farm of over 300 acres, with 80 acres cleared 
and under good cultivation. Mr. Ambrose has served for many 
years on the board of County Commissioners, has represented 
his district in the State Legislature and held various town of- 
fices. 

Mr. John W. Perry and James F. Farmer, sons-in-law of 
Mr- Ambrose, took up lots in the adjoining township of Silver 
Ridge and these two lots were afterwards annexed to the town 
of Sherman in order that these settlers might have the benefit 
of schools. The settlers in this part of the town immediately 
commenced to open the road, which was run directly east from 
the Mills to Woodbridge's Corner, and thence in a southerly 
direction to the south line of the town. This is now a fine, 
smooth road and runs through a good farming country. 

Taken as a whole the town of Sherman is a grand agricul- 
tural town, nearly all the waste land being in the extreme north- 
Avest corner. 

We neglected to make mention of Hon. Wm. Irish, who 
came to Sherman from Oxford County in 1869, and was for 
years a prominent citizen of the town. Mr. Irish was a member 
of the House in 1871, and of the State Senate in 1872. He 
died in Dakota about a year ago. 

The town of Sherman is justly proud of its war record. 
The population of the town in 1861 was 486, and the town fur- 
nished during the war 113 soldiers, actual residents of the town 
and all volunteers except twelve. Thirty-four were killed or 
died in service and the term of actual aggregate service of the 
soldiers of the town was 220 years. A handsome soldiers* 
monument stands in the village cemetery, having been erected 
at a cost of $1000, and dedicated July 4th, 1882. 

The township was at first organized with Benedicta, after- 
wards with Island Falls and then as a separate plantation under 
the name of Golden Ridge. The town was incorporated Jan. 
28, 1862, and was named for Senator John Sherman of Ohio. 



WOODLAND 



The task of opening up a new town in the wilderness sec- 
tion of Northern Aroostook Is one of greater magnitude than 
many imagine, and the labor, hardships and privations attending 



138 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

the work of hewing a home out of the wildwood and at the same 
time providing the means of support for a family are such as 
are calculated to put to a severe test both the physical and men- 
tal vigor of the man who undertakes it. The idea of making the 
wilderness blossom as the rose is a very pretty and poetical 
one when someone else does the work, but he who essays the 
task must make up his mind that between the wilderness period 
and the advent of the rose era there must be many weary days 
of toil and a brave and manly struggle which only a man of grit, 
energy and persistence can bring to a successful termination- 
Hard though the task may be, however, and severe and trying 
as are the hardships incident thereto, yet many sturdy men have 
fought the battle through to a happy issue and are today en- 
joymg the fruits of their toil in the way of a pleasant and com- 
fortable home and a fertile and productive farm, the income 
from which renders them comparatively independent. 

The close of the war seems not so far away to many of us, 
and yet there are many sections in the Aroostook Valley where 
may now be seen broad, smooth and productive fields and fine 
houses and other buildings, where at the time of the muster 
out the original forest covered all the hills and vales, and the 
grand old woods had never been invaded save by the sturdy 
lumberman, or the adventurous hunter. 

Other towns there are where the first few pioneers came just 
before the commencement of the war, and, though seemingly 
"out of humanity's reach," yet the bugle call to arms penetrated 
even the far northern forest, and the patriot left his axe to rust 
in the cleft of the huge maple, while he marched away to fight 
his country's battles. 

Such a town as this is the present prosperous town of Wood- 
land, which is today covered all over with beautiful farms and 
upon all the roads are the comfortable homes of a happy and 
contented people. "Where are your peasantry?" inquired a dis- 
tinguished foreigner, as he looked upon the comfortable homes 
of the laboring class in some of the more thickly settled por- 
tions of our country. Well indeed might he ask this question 
could he visit the homes of many of the farmers in these new 
towns of Aroostook, and see the evidences of comfort, and also 
of culture and refinement there presented. None of the cring- 
ing humility of the European peasant here, but each man the 
peer of his fellow, and all on an equal footing before the law 
as free citizens of this grand republic. Surely it is worth a 
struggle to make a home in such a land as ours, and in all its 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 139 

broad extent there is no portion where a man possessed of the 
requisite muscle, pluck and energy can sooner surround himself 
with a generous share of the necessaries and comforts of life 
than in this Garden County of Northern Maine. Those of the 
early pioneers of these new towns who are now living upon 
fine smooth farms, as they look back upon the period between 
the wilderness and the rose, will tell you with a flush of pride 
that the struggle was a hard one and that they hardly know 
how they came through, but that somehow or other they man- 
aged to live until the farm yielded a support, and many will 
aver that the days when they were clearing their farms and 
rearing their new homes were the happiest of their lives. Too 
much credit and honor cannot be given to the wives of the hardy 
settlers upon these forest tracts. Many of them were women 
who had been brought up in comfortable homes and accus- 
tomed to a moderate share at least of the luxuries of life. With- 
out complaining, they followed their husbands to the new home, 
leaving behind them the comforts and pleasures of society, and 
bravely faced the privations of pioneer life. Many a man here 
is proud to admit that his success is largely due to the help and 
encouragement of the good wife who shared and lightened the 
toil of all these early years. The first settlers of nearly all 
these towns were men of small means, and what money they 
had was usually exhausted in reaching their new home and 
they were left with no capital save their strong arms and stout 
hearts. They were usually, however, men of courage and pluck 
and not easily frightened by difficulties or hardships. Here, 
as elsewhere, the law of the survival of the fittest held good, 
and those who had not the requisite sand gave up the fight when 
the hard pinch came and returned to the older settlements. 
Those who held on succeeded and are now enjoying the fruits 
of their toil. 

The town of Woodland, formerly known as Township No. 
14, Range 3, was surveyed for settlement by Lore Alford, of 
Old Town, in 1859, and was divided into lots of 160 acres each. 
The township is bounded by New Sweden on the north by 
Caribou on the east, Washburn on the south and Perham on the 
west- At the time when the first clearing was made in Wood- 
land, both Perham and New Sweden were wilderness town- 
ships and had not even been lotted for settlement. The low 
price at which the State offered these new lands to actual set- 
tlers attracted the attention of men who wished to make homes 
for themselves and families, and they were not long in the mar- 



140 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOKT 

ket before the sturdy blows of the pioneer's axe were resound- 
ing through the forest and clearings were commenced in differ- 
ent portions of the town. 

The first to make an opening in the new town was Mr. 
Frederic E. Lufkin of Caribou, who as early as 1858, before 
the town had been lotted, made a chopping of six acres in the 
north part of the town. 

In 1859 Enoch Philbrick came from Buckfield, in Oxford 
County, and made a chopping near Mr. Lufkin's. Both these 
choppings were burnt on the same day in the summer of 1859, 
fire being set to Mr. Philbrick's first. 

In the same year Charles E. Washburn, B. F. Thomas and 
Moses Thomas came from Oxford County and took lots in the 
north part of the town, and T. L. Jennison, Carlton Morse and 
Charles Carlton came from North Dixmont and settled near 
the centre. None of these brought their families that year, but 
after building their log houses and making small clearings, 
went out and returned with their families the next year. 

The first settler who brought his family to the town and 
remained was Mr. Ephraim Barnum, who came from Ware, 
Mass., in 1860 and took a lot in the southeast part of the town. 
Other settlers who came in 1860 were Jonathan Sawin from 
Westminster, Mass-, John G. Thayer and Luther Robbins. E. A. 
Cunningham had arrived during the previous year. In 1861 
L. B. Mclntire came in and settled near the centre of the town 
and a few years later sold his lot to R. A. Sanders. In the same 
year came George E. Ross from Kennebec County, Willard 
Glidden from Etna in Penobscot, and John Eddy from Ware, 
Mass., who settled on the lot adjoining Ephraim Barnum's, 

Most of the above named settlers are still residents of the 
town and have fine smooth farms and large, comfortable houses 
with spacious barns and outbuildings. 

The township was organized as a plantation in 1861, and 
in April of that year the first legal meeting for choice of officers 
and other business was held. At this meeting John G. Thayer 
was chosen Moderator, E. A. Cunningham, Qerk, and T. L. 
Jennison, Luther Robbins and Charles Carlton, Assessors. 

A few more settlers came during that year but the outbreak 
of the war put a check upon immigration and hardly any new 
settlers came until after its close. It is the proud boast of this 
town that every citizen except two, who was fit for service, went 
to the army, either as a volunteer or as a conscript. This neces- 
sarily placed a check upon the growth of the town, but at the 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 141 

close of the war immigration was resumed and the town began 
to increase in population- 

The first male child born in the town was Ernest Thayer, 
son of John G. Thayer, who was born in 1861, and the first 
female child was Julia E., daughter of Charles Carlton, born 
in 1862. 

The first school in the town was taught by E. A. Cunning- 
ham in his own house in 1863. A log schoolhouse was built 
during the next year and Miss Maria Adams of Caribou taught 
the first school in the new house. 

The first minister who held service in the town was Rev. 
W. P. Ray, a Methodist clergyman stationed at Caribou in 1861, 
■who held meetings once a month in Woodland. The meetings 
were held in private houses until the log schoolhouse was built. 

In 1872 all the unoccupied portion of the north part of the 
town was resurveyed and lotted into 100 acre lots and granted 
to the Swedes who could not be provided for in New Sweden, 
and they now form the larger portion of the citizens of this 
part of the town. As early as 1880, every lot in the town con- 
sidered fit for settlement was taken up, and the remainder, 
comprising about 1000 acres, was sold by the State to Messrs. 
Arnold and Dunn, who have since sold it to settlers. In the 
original survey a block of 1000 acres in the south part of the 
town was reserved for school purposes. This block was after- 
wards sold to Messrs. Johnson and Phair of Presque Isle, and 
the money placed at interest for the support of schools. This 
land has since been sold to settlers. There are now no lots in 
the town owned by the State and very few by non-resident pro- 
prietors- 
Soon after their settlement in the north part of the town 
the Swedes built a mill on a small brook running into the east 
branch of the Caribou Stream. This was the first mill built in 
the town and was a steam mill with one shingle machine. For 
some reason this mill did not prove to be a profitable one and 
after running a year the machinery was removed and the mill 
abandoned. 

Some six miles from the village of Caribou, on the road 
running through Woodland to New Sweden, is the steam mill 
of Messrs. Goodwin and Hackett. This mill was built in 1878 
by York and Merrill and forms the nucleus of what is to be the 
village of Woodland. 

As an agricultural town Woodland ranks among the best 
of the many good towns in Northern Aroostook, and, as the 



142 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

center of the town is but about six miles distant from Caribou 
station, the farmers are provided with a convenient outlet for 
their potatoes and other surplus produce. 

Though a new town, there are now good roads in all parts 
of the town and the character of the soil is such that they are 
easily kept in good repair. Previous to 1860 there was no road 
anywhere in the township, and only a logging road leading from 
Caribou to the east line of the town. In 1860, a road was laid 
out by the County Commissioners running from Caribou through 
the towns of Woodland and Perham and away on through the 
wilderness until it struck the road leading from Ashland to Fort 
Kent in Township 14, R. 6. The road was built across the two 
towns named, but was never continued farther than the west 
line of Perham, owing to the opposition of the proprietors of 
the wild lands in 14, R. 5 and 14 R. 6, who succeeded in defeat- 
ing it. This road runs nearly through the centre of the town 
of Woodland and there are fine farms with broad, smooth fields 
along its entire length. 

The northern part of Woodland is for the most part occu- 
pied by Swedes and as late as 1870 was nearly all wilderness- 
It is now covered with fertile farms and on all -the roads are 
good, comfortable houses and most of them well built and neat- 
ly kept in all their surroundings. These Swedish settlers are 
good citizens and have been quick to adopt the manners and 
customs of their Yankee neighbors. The first tax was assessed 
on these Swedish citizens of Woodland in 1872, and this they 
refused to pay, as the colonists in the adjoining town of New 
Sweden were exempted by the State from taxation for five years 
from the date of their arrival. The tax collector of Woodland 
attempted at one time to drive away a Swede's cow, whereupon 
the owner appeared with his gun and drove the collector off his 
premises. For this the Swede was arrested and taken to Houl- 
ton, but was released without any punishment. For three years 
in succession the Swedes in Woodland refused to pay their tax 
and it was finally paid by the State. Since that time they have 
been prompt taxpayers and good, law abiding citizens. 

Rev. Andrew Wiren, the Swedish pastor, settled among the 
people In this part of the town and built a handsome residence. 
He afterwards married a daughter of Mr. W. A, Vaughan, of 
Caribou, and removed to Florida, where he died some two 
years ago. 

Woodland was Incorporated as a town March 5, 1880. The 
population in 1870 was but 174 and In 1880 It had Increased to 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 143 

679. In 1890 the population was 885. The valuation of the 
town in 1880 was $77,539 and in 1890 was $170,612. The rate 
of taxation was 017. 

There are many enterprising farmers and business men in 
the town and when the completion of the Bangor & Aroostook 
Railroad shall have given its added stimulus to the business of 
the County, Woodland is sure to become one of the most pros- 
perous towns in Northern Aroostok- 



LUDLOW 



The half township now incorporated as the town of Ludlow 
lies immediately west of the north half of Houlton which v/as 
the grant to Williams College. This half township (Ludlow) 
was granted by the general court of the Commonwealth of Mas- 
sachusetts to the trustees of Belfast Academy by a resolve 
passed Feb. 29, 1808. John Reed and William Smith were ap- 
pointed by the general court as agents to deed the grant to the 
trustees of the academy. The half township was surveyed by 
Park Holland In the month of September, 1809, and was deeded 
to the trustees on Dec. 6, 1809. The grant Is thus described in 
the original deed: "Beginning at the southwesterly corner of a 
township granted to Williamstown College, at a hard maple tree, 
thence west, thirteen degrees north six miles to an ash tree, 
thence north, thirteen degrees east three miles to a maple tree, 
thence east, thirteen degrees south six miles to a cedar, thence 
on Williamstown College westerly line south, thirteen degrees 
west, three miles to the first bounds and containing eleven 
thousand five hundred and twenty acres, etc." 

The conditions of the deed bound the trustees to "lay out 
and convey to each settler who settled on said tract before the 
first day of January, 1784, one hundred acres of land to be laid 
out so as best to Include his improvements and be least injuri- 
ous to the adjoining lands." As no settler had entered upon this 
wilderness region previous to 1784, this provision was really su- 
perfluous. The trustees were also bound to "settle on said tract 
ten families in six years. Including them now settled thereon." 
They were also to lay out three lots of 160 acres each, "one lot 
for the use of the ministry, one lot for the first settled minister 
and one lot for the use of schools." 



U4 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

The condition in relation to placing ten settlers upon 
the tract within six years must have been extended, for the 
settlement was not made until some ten years after the expira- 
tion of that limit. We find upon the records the following cer- 
tificate: "Land Office, Boston, 29th March 1826. This certifies 
that I have received of the trustees of Belfast Academy a cer- 
tified list containing the names of ten settlers who are now set- 
tled on the half township of land in the County of Washington 
and State of Ma:ne lying northwest from Houlton Plantation, 
granted to said Academy and is satisfactory evidence that the 
condition for placing settlers upon said grant is seasonably com- 
plied with. Attest, Geo. W. Coffin, land agent." 

On September 1, 1835, the trustees deeded all the unsold 
lands, comprising 7264 acres, to Henry P. Bridge of Boston, for 
$7264. He paid one-fourth, or $1816, down and gave his notes 
for the remainder in three equal annual payments- September 
4, 1835, Mr. Bridge deeds his purchase to Samuel H. Blake of 
Bangor. Various deeds of lots in the grant were given by the 
trustees until 1835. On November 22, 1853, they deeded to 
James White of Belfast, for $2000, "al the unsold lands in said 
half township, together with all debts, dues and demands be- 
longing to said trustees for any lands sold in said half township, 
he paying all claims against them for the services of their 
agents heretofore accruing." So much for the documentary his- 
tory of the grant to the time when the trustees of the Academy 
made a final sale of all their interest in the half township. 

The first settler on the grant was Gen. John Cummings (or 
Comings, as the name was then spelled) who on the 8th day 
of October, 1825, made his way through the woods to the lot 
about two and one-half miles west of the Houlton line, where 
Mr. William Hand now lives. The woods were at that time 
filled with the dense smoke from the Mirimachi fire. Gen. Cum- 
mings with his party camped near where Mr. Hand's watering 
tub now stands by the roadside, and the General chose this lot 
for his new home. Here he cleared up a large farm upon a 
beautiful elevation from which he could overlook all the settle- 
ments upon the adjoining townships. Houlton was then but a 
small settlement and there were openings in the forest in 
Hodgdon, Linneus and New Limerick, the smokes from which 
could be seen from the elevation upon which General 
Cummings built his home. He was for years the prin- 
cipal man in the new settlement, and was agent for 
the trustees of Belfast Academy for the sale of lots 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 145 

and location of settlers. He lived on this farm until his death 
in 1849. His son, John M. Cummings, continued to live upon 
the old homestead until about 1870, when he removed to Wis- 
consin- Bradford Cummings, another son of the General, came 
at the same time and settled on the lot where David R. Small 
now lives. Mr. Cummings was a land surveyor and in October, 
1826, lotted the half township and in all subsequent deeds refer- 
ence is made to his plan and survey. He built a mill on the 
stream which flowed across the southwest corner of his lot and 
which has ever since been known as Mill Brook. The mill con- 
tained an up and down saw and sawed lumber for the settlers. 
It was afterwards rebuilt by Daniel Small, who run it for a num- 
ber of years, when it was abandoned and has decayed and 
fallen down. Bradford Cummings subsequently removed to 
Houlton, where he remained for a short time and then moved 
to Fort Fairfield, where he resided for many years on a farm 
a short distance from the village, and where he died a few years 
ago. Judge Cummings, as he was known for many years, was 
a man well known and respected throughout Aroostook County. 
He served as sheriff of the county and also as judge of probate 
and was an influential citizen for many years. 

Among the ten original settlers besides John and Bradford 
Cummings, were John Stuart, Lewis Wright, Robert Blaisdell, 

Barrows, Cyrus Hutchings, James H. Stevens and Alfred 

Marshall. Who the tenth man was who completed the list we 
have been unable to determine. 

Miss Ruth W. Cummings taught school in the grant in the 
summer of 1830. Her bill for teaching eleven weeks at $2.00 per 
week and boarding herself, approved by John Stuart, school 
agent, is still preserved. Miss Cummings afterward married 
Jacob Pickard and lived in the town until her death in the sum- 
mer of 1891. She was a well educated lady and was much be- 
loved and respected by all who knew her. 

John Stuart settled on the lot next adjoining John Cum- 
mings on the east, where he cleared up the farm upon which 
the Widow Ingraham now lives- He lived here until his, death 
some twenty years ago. 

Lewis Wright took the lot opposite John Stuart. He made 
a small clearing and put up a log house and soon afterwards 
sold to Isaac Dickson, who cleared up the farm and lived upon 
it for many years, then sold to George Howe and removed to 
New Brunswick. 

Robert Blaisdell settled on lot No. 7, Range 2, where Free- 



146 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

man Small now lives. He cleared up a large farm and built the 
house in which Mr. Small now lives. He afterward sold to 
Thomas Small and moved to Wisconsin, where he remained a 
short time and then went to Minnesota and invested in lands. 
The rise in value of these lands made him wealthy. He died 
some four years ago. 

Mr. Barrows took the lot where Mr. Peter Moore now lives. 
Here he made a small clearing but did not live on the lot. He 
was a nephew of Mrs. Cummings and resided with that family 
during his short stay in the settlement. 

Cyrus Hutchings took the lot next west of Barrows on the 
south side of the road. He cleared up the farm and lived on it 
some twenty years, when he removed to Minnesota, The farm 
is now owned by Mr- I. B. Rideout, who lives opposite. 

James H. Stevens took the lot upon a part of which the 
Baptist Church and parsonage now stands. Here he lived until 
his death, some eight years ago. His son, Judson Stevens, now 
lives on the farm. 

Alfred Marshall took the lot on the north side of the road 
opposite where Daniel Barker now lives. He afterward moved 
to Fort Fairfield. 

Mr. John Chase was one of the earliest settlers of the town 
but was not one of the ten included in the certified list. He came 
from New Brunswick in 1826 and settled on the lot where Cyrus 
K. Bradbury now lives. He lived there some twenty-five years 
and sold to Stephen Morrison. He afterwards lived on a num- 
ber of different lots and ten years ago moved to the farm near 
the west line of the town, where he now lives. He is now eighty 
one years old, but is hale and strong. His son Abner carries 
on the farm. 

Mr. Jesse Gilman came from Norridgewock about 1828 and 
took the lot north of Bradford Cummings. Here he cleared up 
a large farm which he afterward sold to Henry G. Allen and 
moved to Houlton. His son, Charles C- Gilman, cleared up the 
farm next east of his fathers, on which John Green now lives. 
He also moved to Houlton and built the brick house a short dis- 
tance north of the village on the Presque Isle road. He was for 
a number of years engaged in the manufacture of brick in Houl- 
ton and removed to California a year or two since. 

Zebediah Barker came from Norridgewock in 1838 and set- 
tled on the lot where his son, Daniel Barker, now lives. He 
was one of the active citizens of the town. Some twenty-five 
years ago he moved to Fort Fairfield, where he died. His son, 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 147 

Amos Barker, lived with his father until he became of age, when 
he bought the lot upon which he now lives with his son, Kelsey 
A. Barker. It was a new lot with no clearing when Mr. Barker 
took it. He cleared up a large farm and built comfortable build- 
ings. Isaac Barker also came from Norridgewock and cleared 
up the farm where John McCormick now lives. He afterwards 
sold to Wm. Chase and went to California, where he remained 
some time, and returned to Houlton. He has been for many 
years one of the principal farmers of Houlton and was for three 
years a member of the State Board of Agriculture. 

Henry G. Allen came to the town about 1838 and bought the 
Jesse Gilman farm which he afterwards sold to Melzer Drake. 
Mr- Drake lived upon the farm until his death some ten years 
ago. He was engaged largely in the lumber business and ac- 
cumulated a considerable property. 

Israel Dodge was also an early settler who came from 
Strong and made a farm north of the main road. He afterward 
moved to Easton and died there. His brother, Daniel Dodge, 
lived on a part of the same lot. 

Mr. Joseph Goodenough, an early settler of New Limerick, 
came from there to the Belfast Grant previous to 1843 and lived 
on the farm opposite the Thompson farm in the east part of the 
town. His son, Elias Goodenough, afterward moved to Dyer 
Brook, from which place he enlisted and died in the service. 

Mr. George Howe lived on the farm north of the one on 
which Mr. J. B. Rideout now lives. He sold his farm to Mr. 
Rideout and moved to Monticello, where he died. 

Silas Hilton lived on a lot north of Mr. David Small's farm. 
He built a small grist mill on Mill Brook near his home many 
years ago. It has long since decayed and fallen down- 
Mr. John Tabor was a blacksmith in the town in 1843. He 
enlisted in the army, and after the war, worked at his trade in 
Houlton. He has been dead a number of years. 

Mr. Royal B. Colbroth cleared up the farm where Mr. 
Henry Lamb now lives, in the west part of the town. His son, 
Matthew Colbroth, lived on the farm opposite. 

Mr. Wm. Farwell, who was plantation clerk in 1840, had no 
farm, but worked in the lumber woods in winter and for farmers 
during the summer. He afterwards removed to Patten and died 
there. 

The Belfast Grant was organized together with New Lim- 
erick as a plantation in 1831. In 1837, New Limerick was incor- 
porated as a town and the Belfast Grant seems to have had no 



148 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

organization until 1840. The warrant for the meeting to organ- 
ize the new plantation was issued by Hugh Alexander, County 
Commissioner, Oct. 17, 1840. The meeting was held on the 26th 
of October- John Cummings was chosen moderator, Wm. V. 
Farwell, clerk, and Bradford Cummings, George Howe and Silas 
Hilton, assessors. There were 37 voters upon the list in 1843, 
most of whom we have noticed above. The main road, running 
through the town on the line between the first and second 
ranges, was cut out soon after the first ten settlers came to the 
town, but was not made passable for carriages until long after- 
wards. It is now a well built turnpike and runs through a very 
good farming section. Coming up from Houlton village we turn 
to the west from the Presque Isle road either at Col. Black Hawk 
Putnam's or near the Gilman homestead, the two roads coming 
together a mile and a half further west, and crossing the western 
portion of the town of Houlton, in which are many fine farms 
and handsome farm buildings. 

In the northern portion of the town the land is for the most 
part owned by non-resident proprietors. There is much good 
settling land in this part of the town, interspersed with tracts of 
timber land. 

Ludlow was incorporated as a town in 1864 and is a farming 
town exclusively, having no mill, manufactory or store. The 
town has good schools, with comfortable school buildings, is 
free from debt and has a small amount in the treasury. 

The town is abundantly supplied with water, having numer- 
ous brooks and streams nearly all running in a southeasterly 
direction and emptying into the Meduxnekeag. 

The population of the town in 1890 was 375 and the valua- 
tion $114,247. 



MARS HILL 



Directly south of the town of Easton, and lying along the 
boundary line between Maine and New Brunswick, is the fertile 
town of Mars Hill. The history of this town takes us away back 
to Revolutionary times, and the original plan of the town is in- 
scribed, on nearly every lot, with the names of the heroes who 
in the days that tried men's souls, fought for the independence 
of our country. In the year 1804 this township was surveyed 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 149 

by Charles Turner, Jr., and lotted into blocks containing 200 
acres each. By a resolve of the Massachusetts legislature these 
lots were granted to the soldiers of the Revolution who were 
citizens of that State. The plan of the original survey as "drawn 
by Charles Turner, Jr., surveyor, September, 1804," lies before 
us as we write, while from the window of a hospitable home at 
the foot of Mars Hill can be seen the steep, wooded side of that 
beautiful eminence, flooded with the light of the full moon on 
this lovely July night- St. Paul as he stood in the midst of Mars 
Hill of old did not look upon a landscape half so fair as can be 
seen from the summit of this grand Aroostook mountain. Ris- 
ing abruptly from a beautiful plain to the height of nearly 2000 
feet above the level of the neighboring stream, its top overlooks 
the fair and fertile Valley of the Aroostook, while with the aid 
of a glass the village of Houlton and the towns in its vicinity 
can be distinctly seen. Hilltop and valley, fertile farms and 
dense forest, glassy lakes and meandering streams, with here 
and there the clustered buildings of some neat village are the 
varied features that go to make up a landscape view of inde- 
scribable beauty. 

The original plan is entitled "Plan of Mars Hill Township 
as lotted by order of the General Court of Massachusetts for the 
soldiers of the late Continental Army who enlisted for during the 
war as a part of this State's quota of said army and served three 
years under this enlistment." The starting point of the survey 
of the township was from a hemlock tree in the southeast corner 
of the town, which a note of Turner's on the wide margin of the 
plan informs us was "marked S. E. C. S. T., being 37 miles due 
north from the monument at the source of the Schoodic Waters." 
This monument was the point of departure for all those old sur- 
veys, as it marked the northernmost point to which the boundary 
line between Maine and New Brunswick had been agreed upon. 
This hemlock tree, probably the first tree marked with the axe 
in what was intended to be the township of Mars Hill, has since 
been cut by some rapacious Bluenose, for when the boundary 
was established by the Treaty of 1842 and the line between the 
two countries was finally run, it sliced off a strip a half mile 
wide from the entire eastern side of the town and left the town- 
ship but five and a half miles in width from east to west. Every 
lot in the town with the exception of four lots on the top of the 
mountain, lot 115 in the extreme northwest part of the town and 
the lots reserved for ministerial and school purposes, was grant- 
ed to some Revolutionaly soldier and his name is upon the lot 



i50 HISTORY OP AROOSTOOK 

on this old plan. Lot No, 54 in the centre of the town is marked 
"For first settled minister," and the lot immediately adjoining 
on the north is marked "Ministry Lot," while lot No. 22 is 
marked "For Schools." This shows the interest the good old 
commonwealth took in the religious and educational advantages 
of her citizens. The names on most of the lots are good old 
familiar English names, while here and there one shows that the 
soldier was a son of the Emerald Isle. As in every good work 
since names were invented, "John Smith" took an active part. We 
have here the record that he served his country at least three 
years in the old Continental Army, for lot No- 46 bears his hon- 
ored name. The name of Isaac Dyer appears upon a lot next 
to the boundary line and we may thus conjecture that from this 
good old Revolutionary stock the gallant Colonel of the 15th 
Maine may.be descended. 

Three miles north from the southeast corner of the town, 
on what was supposed to be the boundary line, is marked on 
the plan the "40 mile tree" and a note informs us that from this 
tree a "lane was marked and bushed out to the St. John River" 
some four miles distant. 

Quite a number of the lots are marked as deeded to the wid- 
ow, heirs or assignees of the soldier to whom they were granted, 
but very many of them were not deeded and these are simply 
marked with the name of the grantee. The name of Samuel 
Cook appears upon Lot No. 61 as the original grantee, while 
quite a number of lots bear besides the name of the grantee the 
note "Deeded to Samuel Cook assignee." Samuel Cook was 
one of the early settlers of the town of Houlton and his old title 
to these lots in Mars Hill had much to do with the subsequent 
history of the proprietorship of that town. It came about in this 
wise. After this township, in common with all the other land 
in Aroostook came wholly under the jurisdiction of the State 
of Maine, the lots upon which unpaid State and County taxes 
had accrued, which indeed includes nearly the whole township, 
were advertised by the State as for sale for the taxes due. 

The town as well as other towns in like condition in Aroos- 
took, was purchased by John Hodgdon, J. C. Madigan and Jere- 
miah Trueworthy, who took what is known as tax titles from the 
State. Subsequently an arrangement was made between these 
gentlemen by which Jeremiah Trueworthy became sole propri- 
etor of Mars Hill township under this tax title. Mr. Trueworthy 
proceeded to open the town for settlement and to give to the 
settlers bonds and deeds for their lots. Roads were opened 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 151 

throughout the town and Mr. Trueworthy gave to the settlers 
land at the rate of one acre for every rod oi road built. Some 
land at the rate of one acre for every rod of road built. 

Some early settlers who had for some time been squatters 
upon the town disputed Mr. Trueworthy's title and refused pay- 
ment to him and in some instances retained their lands without 
payment. This state of things remained for years, until Mr. 
Joseph Chandler obtained from the heirs of Samuel Cook the 
lots which in the olden time had been deeded to him by Massa- 
chusetts. These lots were at the time of Mr- Chandler's pur- 
chase in the possession of parties who held them under titles 
given by Mr. Trueworthy, Mr. Chandler commenced suits to 
obtain legal possession of the land. The cases were carried to 
the full bench of Maine and in 1885 were decided in Mr. Chan- 
dler's favor, thus invalidating Mr. Trueworthy's title to the 
town. Those of the settlers who had been twenty years upon 
the town held their lots by possession, while in other cases 
various arrangements were made to give valid titles. It was 
found also after the town was incorporated that Mr. Truewor- 
thy had given deeds of the school lots and that settlers were 
then living upon them and making farms. In order to give 
these settlers as little trouble, the town authorities, thinking 
Trueworthy's title good, made an exchange with him by which 
they released their claim to the original school lands and took 
from him deeds of other lots to an equal amount. These lots 
the town sold to settlers and a sum of $1065 dollars was re- 
ceived for them, which was invested for the credit of the Minis- 
terial and School Fund. 

When the court decided adversely to the claim of Mr. 
Trueworthy it became evident that the deeds given by him to 
the town were worthless and the town was obliged to make good 
the warranty they had given to parties who had bought these 
lots. They therefore decided to hire of the trustees of the 
school fund this $1065 at six per cent for fifty years, and with 
this money the titles to these lots were made good to the set- 
tlers and the town is simply raising an additional sixty dollars 
for school purposes each year. 

We have been thus particular in describing these events in 
regard to the history of the proprietorship of the town as they 
seem to be of more than local importance and will be of interest 
to readers in all portions of the State. We will now endeavor 
to trace the story fo the opening of the town and of its develop- 
ment to the present time. As in the case of all the towns in this 



152 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

portion of the county lumber parties had invaded the town long 
before a tree was cut upon it for farming purposes. Many a 
grand old "pumpkin pine" had been cut and floated down these 
streams to the St. John River and a market years before any pio- 
neer thought of making a home upon the town- 

The first settlers to make an opening upon the town foi 
farming purposes were John H. Bridges and John W. Ruggles, 
who in 1844 made a chopping in the southeast corner of the 
town on what is now the road from Houlton to Presque Isle. 

The farm upon which the first tree was cut by John H. 
Bridges is now owned by Mr. Benj. F. Jones of Blaine. Bridges 
and Ruggles were at the time living in the adjoining township of 
Deerfield (now VVestfield) and did not rem^ove to Mars Hill 
until four years later. 

In 1844, Mr. Moses Snow commenced a clearing in the 
same vicinity and the next spring moved with his family to the 
new home, thus being the first actual settler to establish a resi- 
dence in the town. About the same time John Akeley came with 
his family and commenced making a farm in this neighborhood, 
and soon after came James McDonough. 

All the above named settlers were originally from New 
Brunswick and as this was previous to the sale of the township 
for taxes, were simply squatters upon the town. Akeley re- 
mained but a year or two and his lot was afterwards taken by 
John Banks. 

At that time the entire township with the exception of the 
small clearings made by these few pioneers, was an unbroken 
wilderness, penetrated only by the hardy lumberman and the 
adventurous hunter. 

The first chopping made upon what is now the mail route 
from Fort Fairfield to Blaine was made in 1852, by David 
Tewkesbury, who fell twenty-five acres of trees upon the farm 
now occupied by John J. Hill, who two years ago repre- 
sented the district in the State Legislature. Mr. Tewkesbury 
did not clear the land, however, and some three years later it 
was cleared up by Mr- Jeremiah Trueworthy, who built a barn 
upon the farm and in 1859 sold it to Benj. Whitehouse, who lived 
upon it for a number of years and then sold it to John J. Hill, 
a worthy veteran of the war of the Rebellion, who now resides 
upon it. 

Henry Wilson removed from the town of Easton about 1856 
and took a lot on Rocky Brook in the south part of the town, 
a short distance east of the Fort Fairfield road. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 153 

Upon this lot was a good mill privilege and Mr. Wilson at 
once proceeded to build a mill with an up and down saw and 
afterwards put in a shingle machine. Here Mr. Wilson made a 
good farm, upon which he resided until his removal to Houlton 
some two years ago. During Mr. Wilson's residence in the tovm 
he was one of the leading citizens. He was for years Mr. True- 
worthy's agent and did much foV the interest of the town. 

In 1856, James Shaw and family came from New Bruns- 
wick and settled on the lot adjoining Mr. Wilson. Members of 
this family are still among the prosperous farmers of the town. 

In 1859 Mr. Sewall N. Pierce came from Auburn and bought 
a lot on the line of the Fort Fairfield road some four miles from 
Blaine Corner. Mr. Pierce has long been one of the leading 
citizens of his town and has done much for its religious and 
educational interests as well as for its industrial development- 

In 1859 quite an extensive opening was made upon what 
is called the West Ridge, though there was no road there at 
that time. In that year Joel Howard, Warren Preble, Lucius 
Smith, Hazen Hill, Wm. D. Graves and Nathan Oakes made 
large choppings in that part of the town. Some of these, how- 
ever, did not settle in the town, but sold their improvements. 
Joel Howard and Wm. D. Graves are now prominent citizens 
of the town of Presque Isle. 

In the same year, 1859, Warren L. Boynton came from Lib- 
erty, Waldo County, and bought 400 acres on the west side of 
the mounta'n and of this he has made a fine productive farm. 

In 1861 Mr. Benj. F. Jones came to Mars Hill and bought 
about 160 acres of land on the Fort Fairfield road. Here he 
cleared up a good farm, upon which he lived for seven years, 
when he removed to the town of Blaine, where he now resides. 

The breaking out of the war and the uncertainty in regard 
to titles to the land, both had the effect to retard the growth of 
the town, and in 1863 diphtheria raged with fatal violence, and 
in that year there were twenty-five deaths in the town. In spite 
of all these drawbacks, however, the town continued to increase 
and new settlers came each year. 

The township was organized as a plantation in 1866, and 
at the first plantation meeting Henry 0. Perry, B. F- Jones and 
S. A. Rhodes were chosen assessors, and Sewall N. Pierce, 
clerk. 

H. 0. Perry came to the town about the time of the war, 
but left to join the Union Army in which he did faithful service. 
Upon his return he settled in Mars Hill and engaged in farming 



154 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

and was twice elected to represent the district in the State 
Legislature. Mr. Perry removed to Blaine about 1870. He has 
served upon the Board of County Commissioners, and is now 
serving a second term as Deputy Collector of Customs at Fort 
Fairfield. 

In the early days of the settlement religious meetings were 
held in private houses until schoolhouses v/ere built. The first 
clergyman was Rev. J. G. Ricker, who came from Boston in 1859 
and bought a lot and commenced to build a house. He remained 
but a short time, however, and for some time Rev. Elbridge 
Knight of Fort Fairfield preached in the town. Meetings are 
still held in the schoolhouses, as no church building has yet been 
erected, though one is now in contemplation. 

Private schools were early established and immediately af- 
ter the organization of the plantation a tax was assessed for the 
support of public schools, and upon the passage of the Free 
High School law a High School was at once established. The 
town has now nine district schools, which are all supplied with 
schoolhouses. Mrs. Lizzie York is the present superintendent 
and the schools are prospering under her careful management. 

In 1877 Messrs. Collins and Hume built a starch factory 
at Mars Hill village. This factory is now owned and operated 
by Hon. Geo. W. Collins of Bridgewater. Soon after the open- 
ing of the starch factory Mr. Bedford Hume built the first store 
at the village. This store is now occupied by B. F. Pierce. Soon 
after this Mr. George Stewart built the store now occupied by 
Mr. Howard Safford. 

The village of Mars Hill is situated in the south part of the 
town upon the Fort Fairfield road. The line of the Bangor & 
Aroostook Railroad runs directly through the village and the 
building of that road will no doubt make this one of the most 
prosperous villages of Northern Aroostook. 



MASARDIS 



Masardis is one of the historic towns of Aroostook, and 
many are the incidents of the Aroostook War related by its old- 
est citizens. It was here that the troops of the heroic Mclntyre 
and the redoubtable Rines entrenchd themselves and here the 
brave Strickland bade defiance to the power of Britain. From 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 155 

behind their breastworks on "the point" where the St. Croix 
joins its waters with the noble Aroostook, they sallied forth on 
their grand advance on Fort Fairfield, and it was to these same 
breastworks that they made their masterly retreat of seventy 
miles in a day after the capture of Mclntyre and others at Fitz- 
herbert's tavern in Fort Fairfield. 

One cannot help being patriotic at Masardis, so closely is 
the place connected with the history of those warlike days. Here 
we are shown the site of the old "commissary." Yonder is the 
point on which the troops of Maine camped behind their breast- 
works, their four-pounders and six pounders pointing down the 
Aroostook River. Ere we have been half a day in the town we 
are presented with a rusty old six pound cannon ball as a relic 
of the war. 

But Masardis is older than the Aroostook War, and we must 
first give the history of the town in its ante bellum days and let 
the events of the war come in their order. 

In 1833 Thomas Goss came to Masardis with his family and 
settled on a beautiful intervale on the west bank of the Aroostook, 
opposite the mouth of the St. Croix Stream. Mr. Goss was orig- 
inally from Danville, Me., but previous to his settlement at Mas- 
ardis he lived upon the Pyles farm, now the Hutchinson farm, 
a short distance north of the Aroostook bridge in the present 
town of Presque Isle. He remained at Masardis until 1840, when 
he moved to the mouth of the Little Machias River in Ashland, 
where he lived for some time and then took up his abode in the 
wilderness away out on the road to Fish River. 

The next man with a family who settled in the town was 
John Knowlen, who came from Passadumkeag in 1835, with his 
wife and three children and settled near the St. Croix Stream, 
about half a mile above its mouth. They left Passadumkeag in 
January, with one single team and a double team to haul their 
household goods. Five miles north of Patten they found the road 
so narrow and snow so deep that the double team could go no 
farther, so they piled their goods up in the woods and covered 
them with bark and boughs, intending to send back for them as 
soon as the road would permit. The snow increased so that they 
could not get out to them and were obliged to leave them there 
until the next winter. From Mrs. Knowlen, who is still living in 
the town, a smart old lady of 83, we learned many particulars of 
these early days. The first two years the frost killed their crops 
and they raised nothing to eat. The river and stream was full 
of trout and the woods of berries and this helped out their living 



156 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

in the summer time and in the winter Mr. Knowlen worked in 
Patten and got provision for the family. In 1836, Roswell T. 
Knov/len was born, he being the first child born in Masardis. 

These pioneers were subjected to many hardships during 
the early years of their settlement in the new town. Mrs. 
Knowlen relates that in the summer of 1839 they got out of pro- 
vision and her husband started with a boat to go down the river 
to Presque Isle, then called Fairbanks, to obtain a supply. She 
was left with four children and had only one pint of Indian 
meal in the house. She had a farrow cow that afforded milk 
for the little ones, and the oldest boy caught fish from the river. 
She says that for three days she ate nothing but boiled wild 
chocolate root. A neighbor, Mr. Wm. Cowperthwaite, who had 
recently moved in there, learned her situation and brought her 
a little flour and tea. Mr. Knowlen could get no flour at Fair- 
banks and v/as obliged to go to the mouth of the Aroostook, 
where he paid $22.00 for a barrel of flour and $18.00 for a bar- 
rel of herring. He was gone ten days and the old lady says 
they were sad and anxious days to her and the little ones, but 
from that time they never lacked for bread. 

Mr. Joseph Pollard came from Old Town to Masardis in 
1837. Mr. Pollard formerly lived in Cornville, where all his 
children were born. Mr. Pollard moved to Old Town and for 
some time was employed by lumbermen and land owners to look 
up timber and attend to various interests in the forests of Nor- 
thern Maine. He thus became acquainted with the Aroostook 
country and, believing that it would at no distant day be opened 
to settlement, he decided to build a mill and take up a lot for a 
farm on the upper Aroostook. Late in the winter of 1838, Mr. 
Pollard left Old Town with five tons of supplies loaded on sleds 
for the far off Aroostook. The West Aroostook road was pass- 
able for teams at that time as far as the Knowlen place, where 
the road turns off to go down through Smyrna to Houlton. Ar- 
riving at that place, Mr. Pollard sent his teams back and with a 
crew of eight men made hand sleds with wide runners and went 
to work to haul the supplies through to Masardis. This was a 
work of much magnitude, and was performed in this way: Load- 
ing the hand sleds the crew would start in the morning and pro- 
ceed through the woods all day, camping at night. They would 
then return and haul another load to this camp, and when all was 
up proceed another stage, and in this way they continued until 
all the goods were up to a camp some four miles from Masardis, 
where the road now turns off to the Oxbow. It was now late 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 157 

in March and finding a good sugar berth at this place, the party 
camped here and made 300 pounds of maple sugar and then 
proceeded to haul their goods to Masardis, 

Making his headquarters at Masardis, Mr. Pollard built a 
mill on the St. Croix Stream about nine miles from its mouth, 
in Township No. 9, R. 4. The mill contained an up and down 
saw and a run of stones and bolt. At the same time he took up 
a lot of 160 acres on the hill, a short distance south of the junc- 
tion of the St. Croix with the Aroostook, and immediately com- 
menced clearing up a farm, but did not move his family to the 
new home until October, 1840. The family came by team as far 
as Mr. Daniel Smith's, who then lived on what is now called the 
Cliff place, about fourteen miles from Masardis. Mr. Smith was 
the father of Hon. Oramandel Smith and it was here in the wil- 
derness of Northern Aroostook that the genial Secretary of 
State first saw the light. This road being impassable for car- 
riages from that place, Mrs. Pollard and her five children, the 
oldest being eleven and the youngest seven, walked fourteen 
miles through the woods to her forest home. The old lady is 
still living at Masardis with her son, Mr. J. F. Pollard, and is 
bright and active at the age of 87. From her we received many 
incidents concerning the hardships of their pioneer life. 

They were obliged to leave all their goods at Mr. Smith's 
until snow came, and the old lady says that for three months 
she had no pillow to lay her head upon and was subjected to 
many discomforts. 

Mr. Pollard continued to run the mill on the St. Croix for 
five years, when he sold it to Leonard Jones of Bangor. It af- 
terwards passed through a number of hands and was burned 
about 1855. In 1843 Mr. Pollard built a frame house on his 
own land, the family having previously occupied a log house 
built by Leonard Reed, who moved to Presque Isle and kept a 
hotel there in the early days. In his new house Mr. Pollard 
commenced keeping tavern, and having bought a tract of land 
on the west side of the road opposite his original lot he there 
built a large house in 1866. This house was burned in 1884. 
Mr. Pollard and his wife were alone in the house when the fire 
broke out, and she lay in bed with a broken leg. Neighbors 
finally came and carried her out, but not until the fire had come 
uncomfortably near her bed. The house was rebuilt during the 
next summer. Mr. Pollard died in February, 1888. being almost 
90 years old. His son, J. F. Pollard, was a soldier in the 1st 
D. C. Cavalry and afterwards in the 2d Me. Cavalry. 



1&8~ HISTORY OF AIROOSTOOK: 

Sanfield D. Reed came in with Mr. Pollard in 1838. There 
were then at Masardis, besides the Goss and Knowlen families, 
Samuel Leavitt, a young man who came about the same time that 
Mr. Goss came, Eenj. Howe, Geo. Fields, Sanford Noble, Wm. 
Cowperthwaite and a man named Dow. 

In the winter of 1839 we first begin to catch glimpses of 
the Aroostook War, and in that winter a number of new settlers 
came to Masardis. Wm. Fitzgerald came with Mr. Pollard in 
1838 as a millwright and having finished the mill, settled at 
Masardis in 1839. He built the house in which Mr. Quincy now 
lives and kept hotel there for a number of years. He was also 
engaged in trading and lumbering and moved to Presque Isle 
about 1870. During the same winter, 1839 — 9, Alexander 
Woodward and Samuel Fogg came from Old Town. Mr. Wood- 
Ward was for a number of years a prominent business man at 
Masardis, where he engaged in lumbering and trading until 1854, 
when he moved to Minnesota. Abel McAllister came from Mont- 
ville the same winter and lived at Masardis some ten years. 
Isaiah Pishon came from Passadumkeag and settled near the 
mouth of the St. Croix Stream. 

In February 1839, the famous posse under Sheriff Strick- 
land and Land Agent Mclntyre arrived at Masardis and built a 
building called the "Commissary" a short distance north of Mr. 
Pollard's. On the point where the St. Croix enters the Aroos- 
took, they built a fort or breastwork, behind which they sta- 
tioned their artillery, consisting of four and six pounders, and 
here the troops camped in tents. In a few days the advance was 
made to the mouth of the Little Madawaska above Fort Fairfield, 
and immediately after that the hurried retreat of the posse to 
their breastworks on the point. Mrs. Knowlen describes the ar- 
rival of the posse after the retreat and says that many of them 
came to her house in the night, and that teams loaded with sol- 
diers were coming all night long. All was excitement at Mas- 
ardis, as it was expected that a body of British troops would 
follow on up the river for the purpose of capturing the Yankees. 
Videttes were placed down the river to give the alarm on the 
approach of the enemy. One day a man from the outpost came 
rushing in and reported that the British were coming. All was 
confusion and consternation at the little settlement as the of- 
ficer notified the settlers to be ready to leave their homes at 
once. It was soon learned, however, that the dreaded Britist 
were only some loads of hay coming up the river. 

As much of old history is preserved in the form of ballads. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 159 

I here insert some rhymes written by a lady at Masardis during 
these stirring times. It will thus be seen that history and the 
ballads of the period agree as to the incidents of that bloodless 
war. 

"Come all ye noble Yankee boys, come listen to my story. 
I'll tell about those Volunteers and all their pomp and glory. 
They came to the Aroostook their country to support. 
They came to the St. Croix and there they built a fort. 

They started down the river some trespassers to find. 

They came to Madawaska Stream, and there they formed a line. 

But Mclntyre and Cushman they thought it too severe 

To lodge with private soldiers; to a tavern they did steer 

They came to one Fitzherbert's at eight o'clock at night, 
Where these poor weary officers expected much delight. 
But instead of taking comfort, as I think you all will own, 
They were taken by an Irish mob and hauled to Fredericton. 

Then on parole of honor these gentlemen went home, 

And never to Aroostook were they again to come. 

When Rines and Strickland heard the news they knew not 

what to do. 
Their heads were quite distracted, their hearts were full of woe. 

Strickland turned unto his men and to them he did say, 
"We'll retreat back to Masardis; we can do it in a day." 
They came to Col. Goss's, they halted on the shore; 
Such a poor distressed company you never saw before. 

Some with empty stomachs and some with frozen feet. 
This is a feather in Rines' cap, this seventy miles retreat. 
Now they've gone across the river, a breastwork for to built, 
For fear the British would come up and they would have to yield. 

'Tis built of spruce and many a cedar tree. 

So neatly framed together is this famous battery. 

And now we defy the British Queen and all her red-coat crew 

To beat our noble Yankee boys, let them try what they can do." 

During these troubles there was much anxiety among the 
families in this new settlement, but fortunately the disputes 
were settled without bloodshed, and the cloud of war passed by. 



160 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

In April 1839, the State troops went through to Fish River. Mr. 
Sanfield Reed, now living at Masardis, went as a teamster with 
a company of men under Captain Nye. They went with teams 
down the river from Masardis to Ashland, thence up the Little 
Machias to Little Machias Lake, thence across through the 
woods some two and a half miles to Portage Lake, and followed 
down through the chain of lakes and Fish River, to the mouth 
of the river, where a block house was afterwards built called 
Fort Kent. 

Immediately following the departure of the troops, new 
settlers began to come to the town. On the 21st of March, 1839, 
the town was incorporated. 

In 1840 William Ellis came from Dexter and settled a short 
distance south of Mr. Pollard, on the lot afterwards occupied by 
John Knowlen. Mr. Ellis remained but a few years, and moved 
to Ashland. 

Mr. Eben Trafton came from Newfield in 1841, and settled 
near the north line of the town. Mr. Trafton taught the first 
school ever opened at Masardis. He has for many years been 
one of the prominent citizens of the town, and at one time was 
largely engaged in lumbering, but for a number of years has 
given his whole attention to his large farm. 

William Cowperthwaite, a son of the pioneer settler, came 
in 1841, and settled on his father's lot about a mile north of the 
St. Croix. Mr. Cowperthwaite remained one of the principal 
citizens of Masardis until his removal to California some two 
years ago, and was at one time a member of the legislature. 

In 1842 Amasa Coding came fram Corinna and bought the 
farm of Thomas Goss. This is now one of the finest farms in 
the town, and is occupied by Mr. Llewellyn Coding, a son of the 
original settler. 

In 1854 Charles W. Clayton came to Masardis and bought 
the property of Alexander Woodward. Mr. Clayton engaged 
largely in lumbering and farming, and was for years the principal 
business man of the town. In 1870 Mr. Clayton moved to Ash- 
land, where he has since resided. Mr. S. D. Reed purchased 
the Clayton farm, and now lives upon it. In 1883, Mr. Clayton 
built a starch factory on Squa Pan Stream in Masardis, and two 
years later Mr. Walker built the grist mill on the opposite side 
of the strea.m 

Unmistakably Masardis is an excellent farming town as is 
evidenced by the indications of prosperity seen on every hand. 
The buildings are large, neat and tidy, the fields broad and level 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 161 

and free from stone and there are but two or three mortgaged 
farms in the town. The town is abundantly watered by the 
Aroostook and its tributaries, and all the people here seem to 
add to their prosperity is a railroad to the outer world. 



MONTICELLO 



Twelve miles due north from Houlton is the pleasant vil- 
lage of Monticello, located upon the banks of the north branch 
of the Meduxnekeag Stream. The town of Monticello is one of 
the best of the border towns of Aroostook and contains many 
beautiful farms and fine and attractive residences. The soil 
throughout the greater part of the town is fertile and productive 
and Is easy of cultivation. The road from Houlton to Presque 
Isle runs in a due north course upon the centre line of the town, 
thus dividing it into two equal parts. The eastern half of the 
town, lying between the County road and the New Brunswick 
line, has been longer settled and perhaps contains the greater 
portion of good farming land. In the western half, however, 
there is much very fine farming land, though in some portions 
the farms seem newer and not yet under cultivation like the east- 
ern section. Monticello is bounded on the north by Bridgewater 
and south by the town of Littleton. Its eastern boundary is the 
New Brunswick line and on the west lies the wilderness town- 
ship of Letter C, Range 2. 

The town shows evidence of having been settled earlier 
than the towns in the Aroostook Valley. Occasionally may be 
seen an old dwelling whose style and general appearance tell of 
its having been built nearly a half century ago, but in most in- 
stances the old dwellings have been either taken down or mod- 
ernized and the grounds around them handsomely arranged and 
attractive. Upon the older farms the general aspect is one of 
thrift and prosperity, though the great need of this, as of the 
other Aroostook towns, is a better and more direct connection 
with the outside world by means of a railroad running upon our 
own soil to the great trunk lines of the State. 

Gen. Joel Wellington of Albion, Me., bought the township 
about the year 1828, and it was formerly known as Wellington 
Township. By the conditions of the deed from the State of 
Maine, Gen. Wellington was required to make certain improve- 



162 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

ments upon the township, among them being the building of a 
mill, opening roads, building a schoolhouse and other necessary 
Improvements to make the tract available for settlement. In 

1829 he came through the woods from Houlton by a spotted line, 
bringing with him a crew of men and commenced felling trees 
and clearing land on the high land south of the Meduxnekeag 
Stream, near where the Wellington homestead now stands. He 
cleared up most of the land upon which the present village is 
located and built a mill upon the stream. 

Soon after Gen. Wellington entered upon the town, settlers 
commenced to come in and take up lots, clear away the forest 
and make homes for themselves and families. Among the first 
was George Pond, who came from the town of Thorndike in 

1830 and took a lot near the present village on the east side of 
the road. The first frame house built in the town was built by 
Mr. Pond in 1835 and in this house Mr. Pond kept hotel for 
nearly twenty years. Mrs. Pond was a very useful woman in 
the new settlement, there being no doctor nearer than Houlton, 
and her services were often required as a nurse for the sick. 
Hr daughter, Mrs. Isaiah Gould, who now lives in the old Pond 
homestead, relates many interesting stories of the experiences of 
this good woman in traveling through the woods on horseback 
and up and down the stream in a boat, sometimes in time of 
freshet at the risk of her life, to visit patients who required her 
services. 

Gen. Wellington continued to make his home in Monticello 
until his death, which occurred at the residence of his son Albion 
at Fort Fairfield in 1865, and his remains were brought to Mont- 
icello for interment. On the same day Mr. George Pond died 
at Monticello in the house he built in 1835, and these two pioneer 
settlers of the town were buried on the same day. 

In 1831, Clo. Nathan Stanley came to the town and settled 
about a mile and a half south of the stream on the line of the 
Houlton road and the same year William Cowperthwaite came 
from New Brunswick and bought a lot of 120 acres on the Me- 
duxnekeag Stream some three miles below the mill. The old 
gentleman, now 76 years old. Is still living and resides with his 
son near the old place where he first made his home. 

Among the early settlers of the place were also Mr. Jerry 
Lyons, the Stackpoles, Wadllas, Jewells, Lowells and others. 
Mr. Wadlla came from Castine in 1832 and bought a lot half a 
mile west of the County road. In 1833 Peter Lowell came from 
Dixmont and settled upon a beautiful ridge of land half a mile 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 163 

south of the stream. In the same year Mr. John Hayward came 
from New Brunswick and settled in the east part of the town 
near Mr. Wadlia. 

The road from Houlton to Monticello was cut through in 
1833 and did not continue farther north until 1840, when it was 
extended to Presque Isle and became the thoroughfare for the 
trnasportation of supplies to the new settlements in the Aroos- 
took Valley. 

The hotel so long kept upon the high land on the south 
side of the stream was built by Mr, Jesse Lambert in 1846. In 
1861 it was purchased by Isaac Archibald, and afterwards passed 
through a number of different hands until six years ago it was 
bought by W. S. Howe, who kept it until last fall, when it was 
destroyed by fire and has not been rebuilt. Another well known 
hotel was the old Gould stand, on the hill a mile south of the vil- 
lage. This house was long kept by Deacon Hiram Gould and 
was also burned a number of years ago and has not been rebuilt. 
Dea. Gould now resides in the village and is quite infirm. 

The village of Monticello is very pleasantly located upon 
the high ground south of the Meduxnekeag Stream and within 
a few years has extended across the stream and is now thickly 
built up as far north as Stitham's Corner. A handsome school 
house adds much to the looks of the place and gives evidence 
of the interest taken by the citizens in the education of their 
children. On the hill west of the main street is the Union meet- 
ing house, a very handsome church building erected some years 
ago, and on the beautiful plain on the bank of the stream east 
of the village is the cemetery. 

The town was incorporated July 29, 1846, and in 1850 had 
a population of 227. In 1880 the population has increased to 
965, and today it is well up to 1200. 



LITTLETON 
Adjoining the town of Houlton on the north is the flourish- 
ing town of Littleton, through which the County road from Houl- 
ton to Presque Isle runs in a due north course on the centre line 
of the town. The south half of this town was originally granted 
by the Massachusetts Legislature to Williams College and the 
north half to Framingham Academy. The Meduxnekeag Stream 
enters the town a little over a mile west from the southeast 
corner and flowing north for nearly three miles, turns abruptly 
to the east and crossing the boundary flows in a suotheasterly 



164 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

direction until it finds its way into the St. John at Woodstock. 
The principal tributary of the Meduxnekeag in Littleton is John- 
son Brook, which enters the town near its northwest corner and 
flowing diagonally across the town in a southeasterly direction, 
empties into the Meduxnekeag some two miles from the south 
line. The western half of the town contains a number of high 
ridges and the surface in this portion is considerably broken, 
not enough, however, to interfere with farming operations as the 
soil is fertile and productive. The peculiar formation known as 
the "horseback" extends in a northerly direction through this 
portion of the town. The eastern half of the town contains no 
very high ridges but in portions is somewhat broken, though less 
so on the whole than the western half. Limestone forms the 
underlying ledge in this town, and the soil is enriched by its 
gradual disintegration. Its porous character also affords natural 
drainage. The town was originally covered with a mixed growth 
of the hard and soft woods natural to this region and contained 
much valuable timber. 

The first settlements made in the town were along the line of 
the present County road from Houlton to Presque Isle and in 
the southern portion of the township. 

All the original settlers of the town having now passed 
away, it is quite difficult to trace its early history or to determine 
who first entered the wilderness to make a home in what is now 
Littleton. It is quite certain, however, that among the very 
earliest, if not the first, settlers who came to the town to remain 
and make a home was Mr. Thomas Osborne, who came from 
Belfast, Me., in 1835 and settled on a lot in the ex.treme southern 
part of the town adjoining the Houlton line. This lot had been 
taken a short time previous by Mr, Daniel Jones, who came from 
Bath and had made a small clearing upon the lot. Mr. Jones 
sold his improvement to Mr. Osborne and removed to Hodgdon, 
where he was for many years a valued and influential citizen, 
and where he continued to reside until his death. Mr. Osborne 
was a tanner by trade and worked at this business in Houlton 
a portion of the time during the first years of his residence in 
Littleton. After his death his son, Stephen A. Osborne, came 
into possession of the farm and is still residing upon it. He 
continued to improve the farm and in 1862 built a large house 
and stable with the intention of keeping a hotel, which plan he 
afterwards abandoned. Mr. Osborne was one of the conductors 
on the freight trains which in the early days ran from Aroos- 
took County to Bangor and which consisted of four and six 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 165 

horse teams, their down freight being usually shingles and the 
return cargo a general assortment of supplies. He now devotes 
himself wholly to farming, his farm at present consisting of 163 
acres of fertile land, with nearly 100 acres cleared. 

Mr. Lewis DeLaite was also one of the earhest settlers of 
the town. He came to Littleton from Piscataquis County about 
the year 1840 and settled on the west side of the County road, 
one lot south of the center of the town. Here he made a farm 
upon which he resided until his death, and was succeeded by 
his son, Lewis DeLaite, who for many years was one of the 
active citizens of the town. He also drove team on the Bangor 
route for a number of years and was engaged in trade in Little- 
ton. Mr. DeLaite removed with his family to Minneapolis some 
few years ago and his farm is now occupied by Mr. Jerry Har- 
rigan. About the time that the elder Lewis DeLaite settled in 
Littleton, the lot immediately opposite was taken by a Mr. Ham- 
ilton, who was a blacksmith and worked a part of the time at 
that trade in Houlton, Mr. Hamilton moved from Littleton 
about 1850 and his farm is now owned and occupied by Mr. 
Jerry Harrigan. At about the same time Mr. Staples settled upon 
what is now the Wright farm next south of the DeLaite farm, 
and the lot opposite, afterwards the Tozier farm, was taken by 
Philip Keene, who remained but a few years and sold to Mr. 
Tozier, who came to Aroostook from Miramichi, N. B. His son, 
James Tozier, is now a merchant in Ashland, having formerly 
been engaged as a scaler of lumber upon the Aroostook and St. 
John waters. Another son, Edward Tozier, is a farmer in New 
Limerick. The Tozier farm was afterwards owned by Mr. C. A. 
Stevens and is now occupied by Mr. Robert Hone. 

In 1843 Martin Johnson came from Readfield and took the 
lot next south of Staples. Robert Williams had made a small 
clearing upon the lot and sold to Mr. Johnson, who also bought 
the lot opposite and cleared up a large farm upon which he lived 
until his death in 1856. His son, Lewis B. Johnson, then came 
into possession of the homestead farm upon which he made 
many improvements. He was also for some years employed in 
teaming to Bangor and was engaged in trading and lumbering, 
and built the first mill in the town. Mr. Johnson sold the farm 
in 1868 to Mr. J. T. Drake and moved to Houlton, where he 
was for some years engaged in trade and is now one of the prom- 
inent and substantial citizens of Houlton. He held the office 
of County Treasurer of Aroostook for six years and was after- 
wards sheriff of the County for a term of six years. He is now 



166 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

president of the Farmers' National Bank of Houlton. 

Another of the early settlers of this portion of the town 
was Noah Furbush, who came in 1843 and took the lot next 
south of Mr. Johnson's. He lived there some ten years and 
moved to Lynn, Mass., where he still resides and is engaged in 
the soap business. 

Major Abner True came to Littleton from Lincoln about 
1845 and took the lot next to the center line of the town. Here 
he made a clearing, built a house and opened a hotel which he 
kept for many years. Major True died nearly 20 years ago and 
is still remembered as one of the pioneer settlers of the town. 

In the portion west of the County road one of the earliest 
settlers who remained to make a home was Mr. William Wiley, 
who moved from Massachusetts to New Brunswick in 1825 and 
in 1849 came to Littleton and bought of a Mr. Rollins a lot half 
a mile west of the County road and south of the centre line. 
Some ten acres were cleared on the lot when Mr. Wiley pur- 
chased it. He made a good farm here and lived upon it until 
his death in 1863. His son, David Wiley, now lives on the old 
homestead, having made additions to the farm which has now 
about 100 acres of cleared land. David Wiley was a good sol- 
dier in the old Sixth Maine Battery and is a respected citizen of 
Littleton. 

On the South Ridge one of the earliest settlers is Mr. Peter 
McGlynn, who emigrated from Ireland in 1848 and in 1850 came 
to Littleton and took a lot in what was then the wilderness por- 
tion of the town, a mile and a half west of the County road. 
Mr. McGlynn has now a fine farm with 70 acres cleared and has 
a good set of farm buildings. A good road now runs by his 
place and he is in the midst of a pleasant and prosperous neigh- 
borhood with fine fertile farms, all of which he has seen hewn 
out of the forest since he has settled on his lot. 

Among the first to settle east of the stream were Samuel 
Adams, Francis Watson and John Little. They came about 1840 
and have now all passed away. Mr. Joseph Henderson, the 
earliest living resident in this portion of the town, came from 
Ireland and settled in Littleton in 1843, taking a lot east of the 
Meduxnekeag and next to the New Brunswick line. The three 
settlers named above were the only ones in this portion of the 
town when Mr. Henderson came. Their only outlet was an old 
lumber road which let out to the road from Woodstock to Houl- 
ton and over this they took their grists to Cary's mill in Houl- 
ton in those early years. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 167 

This section now contains some of the finest farms in the 
town, occupied by substantial, independent farmers with neat 
and handsome buildings. Mr. Josiah Little of Portland had pre- 
vious to 1840 acquired possession of the Williams College Grant 
and of him these early settlers purchased their land. Mr. Hen- 
derson wrote to his friends in Ireland of the opportunity for 
making a home in this new country, and in 1845 his four bro- 
thers, William, Nathaniel, John and Thomas Henderson came 
and settled on lots near Joseph. Of these ail but William are 
now dead. The others left children who now occupy the old 
farms and are in comfortable circumstances. 

On the west bank of the Meduxnekeag is the fine farm of 
Mr. James McClay, who came here from New Brunswick in 
1850 when there were but few settlers in his vicinity, John Wat- 
son, James McBride and Charles Perry came from New Bruns- 
wick about the same time and settled on lots near Mr. McClay 
and all have made handsome farms. 

Among the prosperous farmers east of the Meduxnekeag, 
besides the Hendersons already mentioned, are Mr. John Craw- 
ford, whose farm is the southeastern lot in the town. 

The town is well provided with roads in all sections and a 
general appearance of prosperity is noticed. Large quantities 
of farm produce are hauled from Littleton to Houlton to be 
shipped and the farmers are now hopeful that the building of 
the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad will soon give them better 
facilities for exporting their produce. 

The two half townships originally granted to Williams Col- 
lege and Framlngham Academy were Incorporated as a town 
on March 18, 1856, and' the new town was named Littleton, after 
Mr. Josiah Little of Portland, a former proprietor. It is a pros- 
perous and growing town with many good farms and pleasant, 
comfortable homes. 



FORT KENT 



Along the nrothern border of Maine for many miles flows 
the beautiful St. John, the grandest river of all this northern 
land. Broad and fertile intervales are along its banks and beau- 
tiful islands are dotted here and there throughout its course. 
Away from the river the land rises in broken ridges in many 
places and the scenery is the finest to be found in Maine. Fish 
River flows southward through a magnificent chain of lakes and 



168 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

becomes a noble river before it pours its volume into the St. 
John. At the confluence of Fish River with the St. John is the 
old town of Fort Kent. The situation is naturally picturesque. 
Lofty hills rise at a distance from the river banks while near the 
water the land lies in gradually receding terraces of fertile soil. 
The village of Fort Kent is located on the level plain along the 
river and extends to the higher land on the banks of Fish River. 
At the point where Fish River enters the St. John is the old Block 
House, around which clusters the early military history of the 
town. This old structure is still in a good state of preservation 
and has recently been purchased by the State, and measures 
will be taken to keep it from destruction as it is a valuable mon- 
ument of the history of Maine and should be most carefully 
preserved. Fort Kent has until quite recently been regarded 
as a remote point away on the northern frontier, separated from 
the rest of the State by a long distance and looked upon almost 
as a foreign country. Since the extension of the New Bruns- 
wick Railway to Edmundston, however, and the completion of 
the new road "through the woods" from Caribou, Fort Kent has 
been brought nearer to the outside world and has come to be 
known more as a part of the State of Maine. Passenger trains 
now run to Edmunston, N. B., but twenty miles below, and the 
extension of the Temiscouta Railroad will soon allow of railway 
travel to the station immediately opposite the town. By the 
opening of the new road by way of the "thoroughfare" between 
the Lakes, Fort Kent is brought within about forty miles of 
Caribou and the ride is an easy and very pleasant one. From 
Caribou village the road runs through Woodland to New Sweden 
and crossing that town enters the wilderness township of 16, R. 
3. Soon after entering that town it crosses the Little Mada- 
waska River and running into 16, R. 4, skirts along the beauti- 
ful Madawaska Lake. 

Here the citizens of Caribou have erected a handsome 
club house on the shore of the lake and the place is much fre- 
quented as a summer resort by the people of that enterprising 
village. After passing the lake the road runs for a long dis- 
tance through the forest, though there are small clearings at in- 
tervals for the entire distance. 

The history of Firt Kent dates away back to the time of the 
Aroostook War with the events of which controversy it was in- 
timately connected. There were settlers upon the town long 
before that memorable conflict, as will be seen by reference to 
the chapter on the early Acadian settlement along the upper St. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 169 

John. The present article will deal more particularly with the 
history, development and present business of the good town of 
Fort Kent. 

The first settler upon the territory now included in the town 
was Mr. Joseph Nadeau, who was born some tv/elve miles far- 
ther down the river in what is now the town of Frenchville. Mr. 
Nadeau is wont to relate that in his boyhood came the cold 
year, now remembered by but a very few aged settlers, but a 
matter of tradition with all this people. The season opened 
unusually early and April was warm and sunny. Nearly all the 
seed was put into the ground in that month. In May a heavy 
frost came and killed all the crops which were just sprouting 
from the ground. The people re-seeded the ground and had still 
a prospect of a good crop, but in June a heavier frost succeed- 
ed which killed everything and made a crop impossible for that 
year. Much suffering ensued among the French settlers along 
the river and as the snows of the following winter came on many 
of them made the journey through the woods to Canada and 
sought refuge among the French settlers along the St. Law- 
rence. Mr. Nadeau related that his mother, who at the time had 
a nursing infant, was placed upon a sled and hauled by dogs 
through the woods to Canada. At the house at which she found 
refuge was another infant which Mrs. Nadeau nursed. This 
child grew to be a stalwart man and in after years became Mrs. 
Nadeau's second husband. 

Many other interesting reminiscences and traditions of 
these early times along the river are related by the older people 
and their descendants, but we have not space to record them 
here. 

Mr. Joseph Nadeau came to what is now Fort Kent in 1829 
and built a log house on the land included in the farm now own- 
ed by Mr. Samuel Stevens. He was then unmarried and his 
nearest neighbors were at Baker Brook, some seven miles below 
on the opposite side of the river. He lived alone for two years, 
when he married and continued to reside upon his little farm, 
to which he made additions by clearing new land each year. In 
1836 his brother, Sefro Nadeau, came and settled on the point 
at the mouth of Fish River, where he remained until the Maine 
troops came down to the point, when he removed to the thorough- 
fare at the foot of Long Lake on the road from Ashland to Fort 
Kent, where he continued to reside until his death in 1873, and 
where his son, Joseph Nadeau, still lives. 

Not long after Mr. Joseph Nadeau settled at Fort Kent, or 



170 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

at Fish River ,as it was then called, Mr. Daniel Savage built a 
mill on Fish River, something over a mile above its mouth, on 
the site of the present mills. Mr. Savage came from the town 
of Anson about 1827, and settled first at Baker Brook on the 
northern bank of the St. John River. A number of years after- 
wards he moved to Fish River and built a small mill. Mr. Fred 
W. Hathaway of Fredcricton had a grant of this mill lot from 
the British government and this title being afterwards confirmed 
by the commissioners under the treaty of 1842, Mr. Hatheway 
took possession and Mr. Savage moved some eight miles farther 
up the river to a beautiful island now in the plantation of St, 
John. Here he continued to live until his death and his children 
are still residents of this section. 

Lumbering parties from Maine and New Brunswick were 
carrying on operations in the forests of this section and soon 
arose the difficulties in regard to the disputed boundary. Both 
governments claimed the land and many troubles and complica- 
tions arose in regard to the timber and the rights of operators. 
In April, 1839, the first armed party appeared at the mouth of 
Fish River. As we have related in a former chapter, this com- 
pany of about sixty men came down the Aroostook River upon 
sleds hauled by horses from Masardis to the mouth of Little 
Machias River in Ashland, then went up that river to Little Ma- 
chias Lake, crossed the "portage" some three miles through the 
woods to Portage Lake, from which place their route was down 
the lakes and Fish River. The company made their first stand 
a number of miles above the mouth of Fish River at what is 
now called Soldier Pond, but afterwards came down to the point 
at the mouth of the river where they extended a boom partly 
across the St. John River. Farther out in the river at the head 
of the island a pier was built and the boom extended to this 
pier. The current setting toward the southern shore brought 
the logs coming down the St. John into this boom, where they 
were detained by Capt. Nye and his company, on the ground 
that they were cut by Provincial trespassers upon Maine terri- 
tory. Capt. Nye also commenced the erection of a block house 
on the point for the protection of this boom, as its destruction 
was threatened by the Provincial authorities. 

In the fall of 1839 Capt. Nye's company returned to their 
homes, being relieved by a company under Capt. Stover Rines 
of Old Town. In the summer of 1840 the block house was com- 
pleted by Capt. Rines' company and was named Fort Kent in 
honor of Governor Edward Kent, who was that year elected 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 171 

Governor of Maine. Capt. Rines' company remained at Fort 
Kent until September, 1840, at which time a company of United 
States troops under Capt. John H. Winder came to Fort Kent 
and took possession of the post. Capt. Winder afterwards ob- 
tained an unenviable notoriety as Maj. Gen. John H. Winder of 
the Confederate army and commandant at Libby Prison. 

Upon the arrival of the regular troops work was at once 
commenced upon the construction of buildings for the proper ac- 
commodation of the post. The place selected was upon the high 
ground a short distance above the mouth of Fish River and here 
a handsome parade ground was constructed. A large building 
was erected for the barracks and two large double tenement 
houses for the accommodation of the officers. The other build- 
ings consisted of a hospital, commissary store, stable, blacksmith 
shop, etc., all of which were most thoroughly and substantially 
built. The only one of these buildings now standing entire is 
the residence of Major William Dickey. 

One of the officers' houses was for many years occupied as 
a residence by Col. Davis Page and after his death by Deputy 
Collector Edward Wiggin. It afterwards became the property 
of Mr. B. W. Mallett, who has removed it and erected a very 
handsome modern dwelling. The other house which stood upon 
the site of Deputy Collector I. H. Page's present residence was 
burned as was also the hospital. The stable and commissary 
building entered into the construction of Mr. Page's barn. A 
lofty flag pole was erected on the corner of the parade ground 
and remained standing for many years after the departure of 
the troops. It was finally decided to cut it down, as it had be- 
come somewhat inclined, and it was feared that it might be de- 
cayed and fall. It was found, however, to be sound and solid to 
the core, being a beautiful stick of white pine. One of the old 
French settlers relates that he assisted in raising this pole and 
that a tin box containing historical records, the officers' names, 
some coin, etc., was buried beneath the pole. It would be in- 
teresting to excavate this box, as the spot is still known, and 
examine its contents. 

These years during the military occupation of Fort Kent 
were lively years for this little frontier settlement. A number 
of those who came with the Maine posse remained and took up 
farms and others were attracted hither by the large lumber oper- 
ations then carried on. French settlers also came to the town 
and the number of inhabitants considerably increased. 

The firm of Jewett & March of Bangor were carrying on 



172 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

large lumber operations here during those years, their business 
being the making of pine timber which was then abundant in 
this vicinity. Shepard Gary was also operating further up the 
river and had a store at Fort Kent. 

Mr. Moses Rines, who came with his brother, Capt. Stover 
Rines, remained for a time after the departure of the Maine 
troops and purchased Mr. Joseph Nadeau's improvement. Mr. 
Nadeau then moved to a lot a short distance farther up the 
river, where he built a house and kept a hotel for many years. 
Mr. Nadeau was long one of the prominent citizens of Fort 
Kent, and was a man of much natural ability, though lacking 
the advantages of an education except to a limited extent. He 
was a man of genial temperament and is remembered by all as 
an honest, kind and hospitable citizen. His death occurred in 
January, 1885. 

In the fall and winter of 1839 the road was cut through 
from Ashland to Fort Kent. This work was under the direction 
of Col. Charles Jarvis of Ellsworth and his book of accounts 
with the men employed serves us as a desk as we write these 
lines upon the banks of the beautiful St. John. The work seems 
to have commenced in September 1839 and to have continued 
through the winter. The wages paid the men was $18 per month 
for common laborers or choppers and a higher rate for special 
services. Upon this book appear the names of several who 
have since been known as prominent citizens of the County. 
The building of this road also brought much business to Fort 
Kent and a number of the laborers remained in the town. 

Messrs. Jewett and March bought of Mr. Rines the farm 
upon which Mr. Nadeau originally settled and about 1844 built 
the hotel afterwards kept for many years by Mr. Samuel Stev- 
ens. They also built the store opposite the hotel and traded 
there for a number of years. 

About the year 1843, the firm of West & Niles bought of 
Fred W. Hatheway the mill privilege on Fish River and the 
land connected with it. They removed the old mill built by 
Daniel Savage, rebuilt the dam and built a large mill. This 
mill contained an up and down saw, two clapboard machines 
and two shingle machines. The mill was built upon the east 
side of Fish River and the lumber was rafted and run down 
the river to Fredericton and St. John. In 1852 Mr. Silas Niles, 
of the firm of West & Niles, died and the firm became West & 
Jenkins. In the spring of 1854 the river cut around to the east 
of the mill and washed away about three acres of land, together 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 173 

•with two houses, a large barn, a store, blacksmith shop and 
.boathouse. The bridge which had been built two years pre- 
vious was also carried away. The mill was upon a ledge and 
Avas not carried away, but the river now flowed in a new chan- 
nel around the end of the dam. During the same summer the 
dam was continued across the new channel and a large new 
mill was built for the manufacture of deals for the English mar- 
ket. This mill had a gang of six saws and contained very power- 
ful machinery. The firm continued to run these mills until 1866, 
"when they were sold to Mr. Asa Smith of Old Town, who very 
soon afterwards sold them to Mr. George Seely. In 1868 these 
mills, together with a large amount of lumber, were burned, 
and the mills were never rebuilt. 

Mr. Samuel Stevens first came to Fort Kent in the year 
1845 as clerk in the hotel for Jewett and March. Mr. Joseph 
Nason of Bangor was then clerk in the store. At that time Mr. 
E. D. Jewett remained most of the time at Fort Kent, taking 
charge of the business there and Mr. Carlostin Jewett had charge 
of the operations in the woods. The operations at that time were 
upon the Allegash River and a large number of men and teams 
were employed. In 1848 Mr. Stevens bought the hotel and store 
and commenced trading on his own account, the firm of Jewett 
& March giving him their large trade. Mr. Stevens continued in 
trade until 1860, when he was appointed Deputy Collector of 
Customs. He held this office six years, when he was succeeded 
by Thomas B. Reed of Bowdoinham. Since that time Mr. Stev- 
ens has been engaged in farming and keeping the hotel. He 
was also postmaster for some time. 

In 1847 Mr. C. K. Bodfish of Gardiner and Col. David Page 
of Waterville bought of West and Niles that part of the mill 
lot lying on the west side of Fish River, together with one half 
of the dam and privilege. Upon this they built a saw mill con- 
taining an up and down saw, clapboard machine and shingle 
machine, and commenced manufacturing lumber on an extensive 
scale. In 1848 Major Wm. Dickey came from Gardiner and 
bought the Page & Bodfish mill and continued in the business 
of manufacturing and shipping lumber until 1854, when he sold 
the property to Mr. Levi Sears. Mr. Dickey had in the mean- 
time built a grist mill which also became the property of Mr. 
Sears, who a short time previous had married the widow of Mr. 
Silas Niles. Mr. Sears continued to run the saw mill until it was 
burned in 1878. He immediately rebuilt the saw mill and made 
extensive repairs upon the grist mill and was largely engaged in 



174 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

trade and manufacturing and shipping lumber. In 1887 another 
washaway carried off the eastern portion of the dam and about 
an acre of land. The next year the dam was rebuilt and a new 
and substantial bridge was built above the dam, the State giving 
$1000 in aid of the bridge. Mr. Sears died in 1886 and Mr. 
Silas Nlles carried on the business for the heirs a number of 
years with great success. The mills are now in possession of 
Asa M. Pinkham and Cassius Sears. 

Soon after the treaty of 1842 Mr. James C. Madigan came 
to Fort Kent to establish schools in the Madawaska territory. 
Mr. Madigan came from Damarlscotta Mills and was a friend 
and neighbor of Hon. Edward Kavanagh, then senator from Lin- 
coln County, and afterwards Governor of Maine. Mr. Madigan 
had previously been assistant clerk of the lower branch of the 
Legislature of Maine. He was afterwards appointed Deputy Col- 
lector of Customs at Fort Kent, succeeding Mr. Hook, who came 
to the office Immediately after the treaty. He continued In this 
office until about 1848, when he removed to Houlton and formed 
a partnership with Hon. John Hodgdon in law business and also 
in the business of purchasing timber lands. His successors In 
the office of Deputy Collector at Fort Kent were Col. David 
Page, Mr. C. K. Bodfish, Major Wm. Dickey, Samuel Stevens, 
Thomas B. Reed, Edward Wiggin, John Nadeau and L H. Page. 
Until 1869 Fort Kent was in the Castine Customs District, but 
in that year the Aroostook District was formed, since which time 
the office has been connected with the Houlton Customs House, 

Mr. John L. Turner was one of the business men of Fort 
Kent In the early times. In 1845 he was clerk here for Shepard 
Cary, who then had a store near where Mr. W. H. Cunliffe's 
house now stands. He afterwards built the store west of the 
hotel, where Mr. I. H. Page afterwards traded. Mr. Turner 
ihere did an extensive business for some ten years, when he 
removed to Fredericton, where he aftrwards died. 

Mr. Wm. H. Cunllffe first came to Fort Kent in 1846, in the 
employ of Shepard Cary. He continued In Mr. Cary's employ 
In the lumber operations until 1857, when he went Into the lum- 
ber business on his own account. He soon afterwards bought 
the Cary property at Fort Kent, where he established a perman- 
ent residence. In 1865 he formed a partnership with W. H. 
Cary, a brother of Hon. Shepard Cary, and the firm of Cary & 
Cunllffe carried on an extensive lumber business upon the upper 
St. John and Its tributaries. In 1873 Mr. Cary withdrew from 
the firm and removed to the West and Mr. Cunllffe took as a 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 175 

partner, Mr. S. Walter Stevens. The new firm of Cunliffe & 
Stevens continued the business on a still more extensive scale, 
cutting one year as many as tvv'enty-two million feet of logs. Mr. 
Cunliffe was also at the same time a partner in the firm of B. W. 
Mallett & Co., who carried on an extensive business in trading 
and buying shingles, having a large store on the New Bruns- 
wick side of the river opposite Fort Kent. In 1876 came the 
disastrous Jewett failure which carried down both the above 
named firms. Mr. Cunliffe gathered what he could from the 
wreck and has since established a successful business in lum- 
bering and trading in connection with his sons, G. V. Cunliffe 
and W. H. Cunliffe, Jr. 

Mr. Harrison Knovv^les came from Bangor about 1854 and 
bought one-half of the land owned by the U. S. Government. 
He built the house afterwards occupied by Mr. George Seely 
and now by Mr. I. H. Page. Mr. Knowles also built the store 
opposite the barracks, now occupied by B. W. Mallett. He was 
engaged in trade and in the lumber business until 1862, when 
he sold his property to Mr. George Seely and returned to Ban- 
gor. Mr. George Seely, who was for many years one of the 
principal business men of Fort Kent, came to the St. John River 
many years ago as clerk for John Glazier, who had a store on 
the English side some ten miles above Fort Kent. He was af- 
terwards employed as clerk for John S. Gilman, who did busi- 
ness for a time at Fort Kent and also for Mr. Robert Savage. 
In 1862 Mr. Seely bought the Knowles property and went into 
trade and lubmering on his own account. In 1866 he bought 
the mills on the east side of Fish River and at the same time 
purchased Township 18, R. 6, one-half of 17 R. 6 and half of 
17 Range 7. The mills were burned the next year and were not 
rebuilt. Soon after purchasing the mills Mr. Seely formed a 
partnership with Mr. I. H. Page and the firm of Seely & Page 
carried on a large business in trading, lumbering and buying 
and shipping shingles. The partnership continued until the 
death of Mr. Seely, which occurred in 1874. Mr. Seely was a 
man of strict business integrity, a gentleman of much culture, 
a warm-hearted, whole-souled, honest man. His death occa- 
sioned a serious loss to the whole community, by whom he was 
regarded with great respect and affection. 

The United States troops who came in the fall of 1840 re- 
mained four years, leaving the post in 1844 after the boundary 
disputes had been fully settled. 

The country upon the upper St. John is a most interesting 



176 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

portion of the State of Maine and, though heretofore but com- 
paratively little known, is yet destined to become a most im- 
portant factor in the industrial record of the State and to be de- 
veloped into one of the principal business sections of Maine. 
Could this country be connected with the great markets of the 
United States by a direct line of railway communication, and 
could the special lumber law be repealed and mills for the man- 
ufacture of lumber be established on the upper St. John, an im- 
mense business would then be built up, greatly to the advantage 
of the State of Maine. 

From its situation upon the beautiful plain near the mouth 
of Fish River, Fort Kent promises to be one of the most import- 
ant points upon our northeastern frontier. The railroad will soon 
be completed to Clair Station, immediately opposite Fort Kent, 
and thus by means of the ferry the town will be supplied with 
railway communication, although through a foreign country. Al- 
ready pork and flour and all western produce can be laid down 
at Fort Kent cheaper than at Presque Isle, or Houlton even, and 
thus the days of high prices on account of the difficulty of trans- 
portation have passed away for that locality. Although the 
great business of pine timber making which built up the town 
in the old days has now become a thing of the past, and the 
large operations, now principally confined to cutting spruce and 
cedar, have moved further up the river, yet Fort Kent is still the 
center of a vast lumber business and from this source much 
money is brought into the town. 

Mr. B. W. Mallett, now one of the principal merchants and 
lumber operators residing at Fort Kent, first came to the town 
in April, 1853. He came from the town of Lee, in Penobscot 
County, and was in the lumber business four years at Portage 
Lake before coming to Fort Kent. During the summer of 1853 
he was employed by Major Dickey in the mills on Fish River 
and in the fall of the same year moved to the mouth of Negro 
Brook, a few miles below the mouth of the Allegash River. Here 
he bought of Isaac Hacker the mill built in 1845 by Hale and 
McGuire of Lincoln and by them sold to Mr. Hacker. He also 
built a house and store and for two years traded and manufac- 
tured clapboards at this place. In 1855 Mr. Mallet moved down 
to St. Francis, where he purchased a farm and built the house 
in which Mr. Angus Sinclair afterwards lived. He also built a 
store at St. Francis and farmed and traded here for six years. 
In 1861, he went into the employ of the Aroostook Land Co., 
and for five years was employed in scaling logs and looking after 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 177 

wild lands. In 1866 he moved again to Fort Kent and bought 
a house on Main Street nearly opposite Mr. W. H. Cunliffe's. 
He formed a partnership with Mr. Cunliffe, under the firm name 
of B. W. Mallett & Co., and the firm built a large store on the 
New Brunswick side of the river immediately opposite Fort 
Kent. The firm of B. W. Mallett & Co. did a large business in 
trading and buying and shipping shaved cedar shingles, which 
at that time was an immense industry upon the upper St. John. 
Many millions of shaved shingles were at that time bought and 
shipped annually by the merchants of Fort Kent and other 
points along the river, and nearly the whole French population 
of that section was employed in their manufacture. The shingles 
were floated in immense rafts down the river to Grand Falls, 
where they were taken from the water, hauled by teams around 
the falls and again rafted in the basin below. They were then 
floated to Fredericton, where they were loaded in vessels and 
shipped to Boston and other markets. The shingles were made 
both on the American and Provincial sides of the St. John and 
the duty on Provincial shingles formed the principal source of 
revenue at the Fort Kent custom house at that time. The firm 
of B. W. Mallett & Co. continued to do an extensive business 
until 1875, in which year came the disastrous Jewett failure, in 
consequence of which the firm went by the board. It is fair to 
say here that both Mr. Cunliffe and Mr. Mallett came out of 
this failure with their reputation as honest business men unsul- 
lied and with the respect and sympathy of the entire community. 
In fact, their business integrity and experience was about all 
the capital left them from the general wreck, but upon this they 
have since both built up comfortable fortunes. After the failure 
Mr. Mallett was employed as a scaler for a number of years 
and in 1880 entered into partnership with I. H. Page, Esq., in 
the business of trading and lumbering which was extensively 
carried on by the firm until 1888, when Mr. Mallett purchased 
the entire business together with the house and land comprising 
the estate of Col. David Page, who died at Fort Kent in the fall 
of 1869. 

Mr. I. H. Page came to Fort Kent when a boy with his fa- 
ther, Col. David Page, in 1847. In 1856 he went to Houlton as 
clerk for Mr. Rufus Mansur and afterwards for Mr. Patrick Col- 
lins. From Houlton he went to Fort Fairfield to clerk for Hon. 
Isaac Hacker, remaining there two years and then taking charge 
of Mr. Hacker's store at Van Buren for a year and a half. He 
was afterwards for two years in the employ of Mr. C. F. A. 



178 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Johnson of Presque Isle. In 1864 he was appointed to a clerk- 
ship in the quartermaster's department of the army in Virginia, 
where he remained a year and in 1865 returned to Fort Kent 
and went into the employ of his brother-in-law, Mr. George 
Seely. In 1866 he entered into partnership with Mr. Seely and 
the firm of Seely & Page carried on an extensive business until 
the death of Mr. Seely in 1874. Mr. Page continued to carry on 
the business under the firm name for two years, when he pur- 
chased the entire business, in which he was engaged on his own 
account until 1880, when the firm of Page & Mallett was formed. 
In 1888 Mr. Page sold his interest in the business to Mr. Mal- 
lett and in May 1889 was appointed Deputy Collector of Cus- 
toms at Fort Kent, which office he now holds. 

On the "hill," as it is called, or the slight elevation near 
the bank of Fish River, is a handsome square, formerly the 
parade ground of the United States troops. On the north side of 
the square are located Mr. Mallett's store and the Custom House, 
on the east and west sides the residences of Mr. Mallett and Mr. 
Page, while on the south side is the residence of Major William 
Dickey, formerly the old barracks building. This building Maj. 
Dickey has repaired and modernized to a considerable extent 
and has finished the interior into a most comfortable residence. 
Mr. Cyrus H. Dickey, a son of the Major, also makes his home 
here when not engaged in the woods or upon the river. Mr. C. 
H. Dickey was for a number of years a member of the firm of 
Eaton & Dickey, doing business at Frenchville, twelve miles be- 
low Fort Kent, but has latterly carried on an extensive lumber 
business on his own account, his operations being upon the St. 
John River a long distance above Fort Kent. Major William 
Dickey, one of the oldest settlers at Fort Kent now living, is 
well known throughout the state of Maine. The Major is now 
upwards of eighty, but is still hale and vigorous and will repre- 
sent his district in the Legislature the coming winter with his 
usual ability and success. He was first elected to the Legisla- 
ture from the town of Strong in 1841 and has been a member 
of twenty legislatures. He has a pleasant home with everything 
needed for comfort and is quietly passing his declining years 
surrounded by his affectionate children and grandchildren. 

From the northwestern corner of the square the street de- 
scends slightly to the beautiful plain upon which a large part 
of the village is situated. As we descend to the lower ground 
we come first to the large building on the right, owned by A. G. 
Fenlason, Esq., the village lawyer. This building was built 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 179 

some years ago by Mr. Levi Sears and was intended for a 
store. After the death of Mr. Sears it was purchased by Mr. 
Fenlason, who first came to the town nearly twenty years ago 
as teacher of the high school. He afterwards studied law, and 
having married a daughter of Major Dickey, established his 
residence at Fort Kent. He is now doing a successful business 
being engaged in a number of enterprises outside of his profes- 
sion, and is accumulating property. 

In those old days no gayer place could be found in all the 
State than Fort Kent, and none where money was more plenti- 
ful, or was spent with a freer hand for everything that pertained 
to social enjoyment. Far removed as the town then was from 
the more populous portions of the State, its citizens were com- 
pelled to rely on their own resources for enjoyment and the large 
amount of money coming to them from the prosperous lumber 
business in which most of them were engaged gave them ample 
means for gratifying every desire for social pleasure. Fine 
turnouts were the order of the day and some of the best horses 
in the State were then owned at Fort Kent. Roadsters that could 
make their hundred miles in a day were not uncommon, and in 
winter season a race course was kept cleanly swept upon the 
icy surface of the St. John, and here many notable contests were 
engaged in between the fast steppers of the town. Those days 
of exceptional business prosperity and of easy money making 
have long since passed away and with them many who were 
then active business men in the town, but the warm social at- 
mosphere still remains and in no town in the State will a visitor 
worthy of attention be received with more generous hospitality 
than in the Fort Kent of today. 

The Fort Kent Training School, when first established by 
the State, held alternate terms at Van Buren and Fort Kent, 
and each town furnished the building for its temporary accom- 
modation. A few years ago the school was permanently located 
at Fort Kent and a building was erected by the State. The school 
building is very pleasantly located and the grounds are spacious 
and well kept. The school was instituted for the purpose of 
training the native teachers and also to afford the means of a 
practical education to all the youth of this region who were dis- 
posed to avail themselves of its advantages. The school has 
from its foundation been under the instruction of Vital Cyr, 
B. A., a graduate of Orono College, as principal, and for most 
of the time Miss Mary Nowland of Ashland, has been assistant 
instructor. Mr. Cyr is peculiarly adapted to his position, being 



180 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

a native of Fort Kent, of French parentage and thoroughly ac- 
quainted with the language and institutions of his people. Un- 
der his management the school has been a marked success and 
has greatly benefited the youth of this vicinity. Much of the 
success of the school is also due to the efficient work of Miss 
Nowland, the accomplished assistant teacher, who possesses 
superior qualifications as a teacher and is wholly devoted to the 
good of her pupils. In company with Major Dickey, to whose 
efforts the school is largely indebted, we recently spent a half 
day in this school and were much pleased with the methods of 
instruction and the advancement made by the pupils. We were 
pleased to see that the stars and stripes float over the building 
and that the pupils are taught that they are American citizens. 
The town of Fort Kent includes the most of the two town- 
ships of 18, Range 6 and 18, Range 7, and has the St. John River 
for its entire northern boundary. There is much good farming 
land in the town and this is being cleared and brought under 
cultivation. With the exception of the village almost, the entire 
population of the town are of French descent, and of the Roman 
Catholic faith. Much interest in education is now being taken 
by the French citizens and a marked improvement is noticed. 
The population of the town in 1890 was 1826. 



UPPER ST. JOHN RIVER COUNTRY 



In the northern part of Aroostook County is a large French 
population, a part of whom are descendants of the old Acadian 
refugees and a large portion emigrants from Canade and their 
descendants. These people, though American citizens and con- 
stituting a portion of the permanent population of the State, are, 
nevertheless, in many respects a distinct and separate commun- 
ity and will remain so to a great degree for many years to come. 

The Scandinavian colonists of Aroostook have been in the 
County twenty years, and a stranger now riding through New 
Sweden will see very little to remind him that the town was 
settled by a foreign colony and another generation will find this 
people wholly Americanized and merged into the general, hom- 
ogeneous mass of the population of this section. This is account- 
ed for from the fact that the Swedes are of kindred blood with 
us and, in common with us, are members of the old Anglo Saxon 
stock. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 181 

With the French it is entirely different. They are not only 
of another nationality and with language, manners, customs and 
traditions different from ours, but they are of a different race 
also. They are of the Latin race which is not readily grafted 
upon Anglo-Saxon stock and hence they are not readily merged 
into the general mass of the population of this region. There 
are of course instances more or less frequent of intermarriage 
between the French and native Americans and in some cases 
the distinctive characteristics seem in a great measure to dis- 
appear in the next generation, but as a rule the lines of race are 
as distinctly marked amid the general population of the County 
as are the lines of the Gulf Stream in the midst of the waters 
of the Atlantic. 

For many years the French have been inhabitants of Can- 
ada, but they are still a separate people and the Anglo-Saxons 
have not as yet been able to absorb them into a common nation- 
ality. The manners, customs, traditions, dress and language of 
the people along the St. Lawrence are still largely those of 
France, rather than of England or America, and such they will 
continue for many years. So when we reach the banks of the 
beautiful St. John in the northern part of Aroostook County, we 
can in many places readily imagine ourselves in a foreign coun-, 
try. It is true a considerable change has taken place in the last 
ten years even, in regard to the conveyances, the agricultural 
implements and the methods of farming among this people and 
many American ideas and customs have been accepted. Schools 
in which the English language is taught and the literature of our 
country introduced to a certain extent are having their influence, 
and some idea of the fact that they are a part of the State of 
Maine and of the United States is beginning to make itself 
manifest especially among the younger portion of the popula- 
tion. Notwithstanding this, the old traditions remain and the 
institutions and religious ceremonies of Catholic France still 
exert a controlling influence among this people. With them the 
New England Thanksgiving day is almost unknown, and Christ- 
mas is not the "Merry Christmas" that we enjoy. Their holi- 
days are distinct from ours to a great extent. New Year's day 
is particularly a day of feasting and merriment, while "Mardi 
gras" is the chief holiday of the year. Others there are but they 
are those handed down in the traditions of the Catholic Church 
and of foreign lands and have little to do with our distinctive 
Am.erican institutions. Fourth of July is little of thought of 
among this people and it will be long before Concord and Bun- 



182 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

ker Hill, or even Gettysburg and Appomattox will have much 
significance in the minds of our French fellow citizens. These 
remarks are made in no disparaging sense, nor with the least in- 
tention of unkind or adverse criticism upon this interesting and 
kindhearted peaple. They are simply introduced to note the 
difference between separate national characteristics and the dif- 
ficulty of ready amalgamation between the Latin and Anglo- 
Saxon races. 

The people of Madawaska, as this whole upper country set- 
tled by the French is called ,are a simple minded, light hearted, 
pleasure-loving class, of kindly and most hospitable manners 
and peaceable and law-abiding in their general deportment. Their 
tastes are simple and their wants comparatively few and appar- 
ently easy to be supplied. They are a peculiarly social people 
and love to assemble in large numbers for the enjoyment of 
their innocent pastimes, or for the celebration of their religious 
fetes. Music and dancing have great charms for them and they 
are naturally pleased with gay colors both in dress and in the 
pictures with which they love to adorn their houses. Their diet 
is simple and they are in no way given to extravagance in the 
matter of food and drink. Though apparently caring only for 
the needs and pleasures of the passing hour, yet many of them 
Jiave snug little sums, largely in specie, safely stowed away In 
some old chest or other chosen repository, to be drawn upon 
only in case of actual emergency. In their intercourse with 
strangers they are polite, kind and hospitable to a degree most 
noticeable by all who have lived or journeyed among them, and 
in no section of our land will the traveller, meeting with any 
mishap, or needing rest or refreshment, be more kindly and cor- 
dially cared for than in Madawaska. The "dry plank" and the 
best bed are ever at the disposal of the stranger guest who may 
be compelled by circumstances to throw himself upon their good 
offices and no amount of pains or personal inconvenience is 
spared to render all possible assistance in case of mishap. In 
a number of instances, when travelling in a winter night and 
forced by the storm to call for shelter, have we been placed in 
the warm bed, just vacated for our comfort by the host and host- 
ess, while they sought for themselves other quarters, probably 
far less comfortable. They are of the Roman Catholic faith 
and are devotedly attached to their church and scrupulously 
faithful in religious observances. Upon this point they are pe- 
culiarly sensitive and readily resent anything approaching ridi- 
cule or opposition to their cherished religion. Thus held to- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 183 

gether by the strong bond of religious unity, which pernnits no 
sectarian divisions or discussions among themselves, and look- 
ing with extreme disfavor upon anyone of their number who 
presumes to desert the church, or even to neglect attendance 
upon her ordinances, they more naturally remain a distinct peo- 
ple and are less readily absorbed in the general mass of the pop- 
ulation of the country. 

Their methods of agriculture are generally of a somewhat 
crude and primitive sort, as they are extremely conservative and 
in this, as in other matters, are slow to adopt new innovations, 
preferring rather to cling to old usages. 

Since writing the above lines, giving our personal impres- 
sions in regard to the natural tendency of our French fellow 
citizens to remain a distinct people, our attention has been called 
to a French work, written by M. Rameau more than a quarter 
century ago, entitled "La France aux Colonies." This author 
particularly emphasizes this point and even goes farther than 
facts of subsequent occurrences would seem to warrant. We ven- 
ture to translate a few passages, hoping they may not be void of 
Interest in this connection. 

After speaking of the increase of the number of Acadians 
In Nova Scotia during the present century, and of their com- 
plete separation from the English residents of that province, M. 
Rameau says : "All authors virtually agree in bearing witness 
to the preservation of their language, of their national character, 
and to the vigilant care which they have given to these matters. 
Notice what Halliburton, who was a judge In Nova Scotia, wrote 
in 1829: 'While the Germans tend to merge themselves in the 
mass of the population, the Acadians remain distinct as much 
as possible, preserving their religion, their language and their 
peculiar customs; they never marry with their protestant neigh- 
bors. Among themselves they speak French, but it is mixed 
with some words derived from the Indian and from the English. 
The men, however, generally know English, but few of the 
women understand that language. The Acadians have a pecu- 
liar attachment for their language and their customs, and al- 
though their business often brings them among the English, they 
never marry with them, never adopt their manners and never 
quit their villages.' " 

These words of Judge Halliburton, quoted by the French 
writer, may have been strictly true of the Acadians of Nova 
Scotia at the time when they were written and may continue to 
be so today, but they are not altogether true of their fellow 



184 HISTORY OP AROOSTOOK 

countrymen in Madawaska, There, though as a rule they marry 
among themselves, yet marriages with Americans are not infre- 
quent and will probably become less rare as the younger people 
become better educated and the number of Americans increase 
in that locality. Again says Rameau, in speaking of the Aca- 
dians of Madawaska, in which number he includes all the French 
population on both sides of the upper St. John and which he 
places in 1861 at about 12,000 : "Communication is becoming now 
more and more frequent with Lower Canada, and probably all 
the commercial relations of that country (Madawaska) will take 
place in the future through the little town of Trois Pistoles on 
the St. Lawrence. There is then reason to hope that the suprem- 
acy of the American merchants will gradually disappear from 
these villages and that in consequence an end will be put to 
the introduction into the language of the Acadians of Anglicisms 
which have crept into it during the last thirty or forty years.' " 

Despite the solicitude of this ardent French writer, his 
dream of a permanent Acadia upon the upper St. John, with 
manners unchanged and language uncorrupted as when the an- 
cestors of this people peacefully enjoyed their quiet homes "on 
the shores of the basin of Minas" is hardly destined to be ful- 
filled. To a great extent they will remain a distinct people for 
many years to come, but their manners, methods and language 
will gradually become more and more like those of the Amer- 
ican residents in their midst. Communication with Canada is 
indeed becoming more easy and frequent, but the iron horse now 
courses away across that country, and, harnessing to his load 
from the grain elevators and flouring mills of our own great 
western cities, bears it back and lays it down at the doors of the 
French habitans on the northern border of Maine. 

The vast lumber operations upon the upper St. John, car- 
ried on for the most part by Americans, either from Maine or 
New Brunswick, employ large numbers of the French popula- 
tion and thus their young men are brought into immediate con- 
tact with our business men and business methods. For these 
reasons some might predict that though no hostile military-force 
should come with fire and brand again to disperse this quiet 
people, yet the onward march of events in the development of 
the country, the opening up of new railroads through our own 
county and the establishment of new and varied Industries might 
in time accomplish the same results to a considerable extent. 
Yet could our French prophet, whom we have quoted above, 
visit the Madawaska region today, he might with truth say to 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 18S 

US something like this : "Look upon the condition of things 
among this people a half century ago and compare it with that 
of today. Then all the business of the country was done by 
American residents, while the simple Acadian, with no education 
and very little ambition in that direction, contented himself with 
raising his scanty crops and caring for his little flocks and herds. 
Now there are native French merchants at every point where 
business is carried on. The American settlers have decreased 
in numbers, while the French have increased to a wonderful ex- 
tent. Not many years ago a large number of American mer- 
chants were doing business at Van Buren, Grand Isle, Madawas- 
ka, Frenchville and Fort Kent. Today the number at Van Buren 
and Fort Kent is very much diminished, while those at the other 
points mentioned have alomst entirely disappeared and their 
places are occupied by French merchants and business men. 
Starch factories were built throughout the district by Americans 
from Maine or New Hampshire. Now nearly every one of them 
is owned by Frenchmen who have added to the number new fac- 
tories at different points. Mills have been built at various 
places by Frenchmen and are now being successfully operated. 
Young men of the same nationality have been educated as law- 
yers and as physicians and have almost entirely supplanted the 
Americans in those professions. Fifty years ago the French 
settlements were confined to a narrow strip along the river with 
a vast wilderness in their rear. Now they have extended through- 
out nearly the entire portions of the towns originally occupied 
and have pushed their settlements through from Van Buren to 
Caribou, from Fort Kent to Portage Lake and are fast encroach- 
ing upon the lands between Fort Kent and New Sweden. New 
parishes have been formed in places then covered by the wil- 
derness and large churches, filled each Sabbath with devout 
worshipers, now stand where stood the forest then. In all this 
country upon the upper St. John with its immense lumber busi- 
ness, carried on for many years and with its fertile soil there 
is today but a handful of American residents, not so many as 
fifty years ago, while the children of the Acadians have multi- 
plied many fold and are becoming a dense population in all this 
region. At Van Buren only is there any Protestant church build- 
ing, and that a small chapel built by the Episcopal bishop, with 
a pastor but a portion of the time, and this field will probably 
soon be abandoned for want of support. Upon the entire extent 
of the St. John River in Maine there is no clergyman of the 
Protestant faith and the services of that church are nowhere 



186 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

maintained. The country is French and such it is destined to 
remain." 

Certainly the view of the situation outlined above is largely 
warranted by the facts in the case and it would be indeed in- 
teresting could one visit the Madawaska region fifty years hence 
and note the effect of another half century upon the language, 
manners and customs and religious faith of this people. 

From Caribou village the road runs northward for six miles 
across the north half of the town of Caribou, and continues on 
in the same direction across Township K, Range 2, Cyr Planta- 
tion and a corner of Van Buren to the St. John River. 

The large mills of the Van Buren Shingle Co., located on 
the main river, and the long train of cars steaming alnog on the 
New Brunswick shore give a business aspect to the picture and 
indicate that all is not rural quiet and pastoral simplicity in this 
other Acadia. There are two other saw mills in the town, both 
located on Violette Brook. These are the Hammond mills, con- 
taining two shingle machines, and the Souci mill, with two shin- 
gle machines and a rotary. Mr. Fred B. Violette has a grist mill 
and carding mill. Mr. W. C. Hammond was for many years the 
'principal business man at Van Buren and was formerly ex- 
tensively engaged in trade and in the business of cutting and 
manufacturing lumber. He also had a fine farm a short dis- 
tance below the village. His sons were also engaged in busi- 
ness here, but all save one have now moved to the far West and 
Mr. Hammond, having retired from active business, contem- 
plates joining them. Mr. C. F. Hammond is now the only Amer- 
ican resident who has been in business here for any considerable 
time. He is a relative of W. C. Hammond and is the principal 
merchant of the town. Mr. Hammond is also deputy collector 
of customs at Van Buren, and his daughter. Miss Margaret Ham- 
mond, is the village postmaster. P. C. Keegan, Esq., is the prin- 
cipal lawyer, and Drs. T. H. Pelletier and J. C. Upham are the 
physicians. 

The town of Van Buren is nearly in the form of a right 
angled triangle, of which the west line, some eight miles in 
length, is the perpendicular, the south line of six miles the base, 
and the St. John River the hypotenuse. The settlement along the 
river is continuous for the whole distance across the town and 
there are large settlements back from the river in various por- 
tions of the town. The population of Van Buren is 1168. 

The French are a remarkably prolific people and large fam- 
ilies are the rule among them. They are also a home loving 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 187 

race and for this reason, as sons grow up and marry, the pater- 
nal estate is divided and the children are settled near the old 
home. All along the river the farms are divided into narrow 
strips, each having a front on the river and running far back 
upon the higher land in the rear. Thus the dwellings are brought 
near together and along the road on both sides of the river a 
continuous settlement extends for many miles. 

For nearly ten miles the road runs through the northern part 
of Van Buren and then enters the town of Grand Isle. This 
town is named after the large and fertile island in the St. John 
within the limits of the town, and has a population of 964. 

In establishing the boundary the channel of the river was 
made the dividing line, hence all islands lying on the south of 
the channel are in the State of Maine, and those on the north 
are in the Province of New Brunswick. The land in that portion 
of Grand Isle which borders upon the river is productive and 
easy of cultivation, but farther back the soil is not so good, and 
the town is not so thickly settled away from the river as many 
of the other towns. 

Twelve miles above Van Buren we come to the large estate 
of Dennis Cyr, a son of Paul Cyr, one of the early residents of 
the town. The Cyrs are of old Acadian stock and the different 
branches of the family are quite numerous in all this region. Mr. 
Cyr's house is a very large two-story building with broad ver- 
andas and is situated on a handsome plain some distance from 
the road and near the bank of the river. Mr. Alexis Cyr, who 
died some years ago, resided near here and was one of the prin- 
cipal citizens of the town. He was a brother of Dennis, and 
both received a good English education at the old Houlton Acad- 
emy. Alexis Cyr represented his district in the State Legisla- 
ture a few years before his death and was a man of consider- 
able ability. Mr. Remi Plourd, another prominent citizen of the 
town, has a good English education and has been in trade here 
for some years. 

On the hill near the Cyr estate is the fine large church of 
Notre Dame de la paix, a large white structure with a lofty 
spire. In matters pertaining to religious worship the people of 
these French towns have this marked advantage over the set- 
tlers in other Aroostook towns — they are all of one religious 
faith and hence by uniting their contributions are able to build 
one large church in each town and to give a generous support to 
a permanent pastor. Up to 1869 this whole Madawaska country 
on both sides of the St. John River was a part of the diocese of 



Igg HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Chatham and Its religious affairs were under the control of that 
bishop. In that year, however, a division was made, and all the 
parishes on the American side were attached to the Portland 
diocese, now under the pastoral care of Bishop Healey, who once 
in two years makes a visit to all these churches. The visit of 
the bishop is an event of much importance to the people of these 
towns, and great preparation is made for his reception. Small 
trees are cut down and planted on both sides the road at short 
distances apart, making a continual grove of bushes for more 
than fifty miles. At each church handsome arches are built 
across the main road and many elaborate decorations are made. 
The influence of the priests over the people is very great, and 
in most cases is exerted in favor of temperance, sobriety and 
good citizenship. Formerly the priests influenced the people in 
regard to their political action much more than at present. Now 
the priests as a rule do not take so active a part as political 
partisans and the action of the people in this respect is becom- 
ing more independent. 

Madawaska is one of the largest, as well as one of the most 
fertile of the river towns. Nowhere are the intervales and plains 
along the river so broad and extensive, or so smooth and un- 
broken, and nowhere are there more beautiful landscape views. 

The town of Madawaska is composed of parts of townships 
18 Range 4, 'and 18 Range 5. It has a river front of about nine 
miles, and extends back from the river nearly ten miles, includ- 
ing a large part of Long Lake, the northernmost of the magnif- 
icent chain of lakes which extends through the northern part of 
the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th ranges of towns, and finds an outlet 
Into the St. John by way of Fish River at Fort Kent. There are 
many roads in this town and many settlers on the lots back from 
the river. The population is 1451. 

Leaving Madawaska, we next come into the town of 
Frenchvllle. Here the road, which for some distance has run 
nearly west as we travelled up the river, turns abruptly to the 
south and continues in that direction for nearly three miles, until 
we come to the great bend in the river known as Chataucoin, 
when it turns again and continues in a westerly course across the 
town. A short distance above the bend we come to the village of 
Frenchville at the mouth of the road leading out to Long Lake. 
Here there are a number of stores, a starch factory and some 
very handsome dwellings. This factory was built a number of 
years ago by Mr. J. W. Bolton, the present sheriff of the county, 
and Hon. Geo. W. Collins of Bridgewater. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 18^ 

Frenchvillle is a large town and has much good farming 
land. Its population is larger than that of any other town upon 
the upper St. John, being 2560 by the late census. 

Next above Frenchville we come to the town of Fort Kent, 
and here we find that the high bluffs approach nearer the river 
and the land along the road becomes more broken. In one place 
the road runs along the base of a high mountain and the settlers 
along here do not see the sun until late in the day. Some twenty 
years ago a land slide occurred here, an area of many acres 
breaking loose from the high land and pushing out in a mass 
into the river. An abrupt break was made in the main road, 
that part which crossed the "landslide" being thrust over toward 
the river some eight or ten feet. A chasm of considerable depth 
and about ten feet v/ide was made on the side of the wooded 
hill back from the river and so abrupt was the break that trees 
were riven for some distance up the trunk and left standing 
astride the crevasse. 

A_bout three miles above Fort Kent village is the farm of 
Mr. Daniel Harford, one of the best farms in the town. A broad 
and fertile intervale stretches along the river front and the high- 
er land in the rear is level and smooth. Mr. Harford is the son 
of John Harford, one of the earliest American settlers on the 
river. Mr. John Harford came from Saco about 1818 and first 
settled at the mouth of Baker Brook, some five miles below Fish 
River on the New Brunswick side. There was at one time quite 
a number of American settlers at that place in the early days 
when the question of the boundary was in dispute, and the little 
settlement played quite an important part in the history of that 
period. About 1820 Mr. Harford moved about eight miles 
above Fish River and settled on the American side in what is 
now the plantation of St. John. Here he cleared up a farm and 
was for many years engaged in farming, hunting and lumber- 
ing. His latter years were spent with his son, Daniel Harford, 
on the farm in Fort Kent. 

Continuing on up the river we soon enter the plantation of 
St. John, and find the road here running somewhat south of west 
across this town. This township is not much settled excev^t 
along the river road, where there is some very good land and a 
number of fine farms. A few miles above the town line we come 
to T)vhat was formerly the Savage estate, comprising a large 
tract of land on the main land and a very large and fertile island 
in the St. John River. Mr. Daniel Savage, who built the first 
mill on Fish River at Fort Kent, took up this tract of land many 



190 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

years ago and lived upon the island, where he reared a large 
family of children. In company with his son, Oilman Savage, 
he afterwards built the large house on the mainland opposite the 
island and lived here until his death in 1854. The property was 
then divided and Mr. Robert Savage owns the east half of the 
large island. Mr. Oilman Savage afterwards moved to Fort 
Kent and engaged in trade, still retaining his interest in this 
property, and died at Fort Kent about twenty years ago. 

A few miles above here we come to the large estate of Mr, 
Jesse Wheelock, upon which is one of the finest and most pro- 
ductive intervales upon the river. Mr. Wheelock is the son of 
Mr. Jesse Wheelock, who was for many years one of the promin- 
ent business men of this section. He came from Northborough, 
Mass., to the city of St. John, N. B., many years ago, and en- 
gaged in business there, owning largely in vessel property. 
About 1830, he removed to the upper St. John, settling first at 
Baker Brook. Soon afterwards he removed to what is now St. 
John Plantation and settled on the large intervale now owned by 
his son. A small stream, known as Wheelock Brook, enters the 
river near here, and upon this the elder Wheelock built a grist 
mill and also a saw mill for the manufacture of clapboards and 
shingles. He engaged in farming and lumbering here until his 
death in 1837, when his son, Jesse J. Wheelock, took the proper- 
ty and continued to operate the mills for a year, when the estate 
was divided and Mrs. Duncan Sinclair, a daughter of Mr. Jesse 
Wheelock, came into possession of the mill property. Mr. Dun- 
can Sinclair, who now carries on the mills, is a son of Mr. John 
Sinclair, who came from Restigouche, N. B., about 1840, and 
settled at the mouth of Little Black River. Ten years later he 
moved to a farm in St. Francis, where he lived until his death 
in 1884. Mr. Sinclair was of Scotch parentage and though a 
naturalized citizen of the United States, never lost his feeling of 
loyalty to Great Britain. When nearing his death he requested 
Mr. Robert Conners to procure a British flag in which his body 
might be enshrouded for burial. This wish Mr. Conners com- 
plied with and the old man's body now rests enveloped in the 
flag of the country he loved so well. 

Opposite Mr. Wheelock's, on the New Brunswick side, is 
the store and fine establishment of Mr. Robers Conners, one of 
the largest lumber operators on the upper St. John. 

The present survey of the Temiscouata Railroad terminates 
near Mr. Conners' store, but the line will probably be continued 
further up the river. Continuing up the river on the American 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 191 

Side, we pass the farm of Mr. Samuel Russell, who came from 
Kennebec many years ago and who always has a yoke of noble 
big oxen, and come to the Hunnewell farm on the line between 
St. John and St. Francis. Mr. Barnabas Hunnewell came from 
Solon, in Somerset County, to St. John, N. B., about 1820. He 
afterwards removed to Baker Brook and in 1830, came up the 
river and settled on the large island now known as Hunnewell's 
Island, and included in the plantation of St. John. He also took 
up a tract of land on the main land, where he afterwards built 
his house and carried on a large farming and lumbering busi- 
ness. The country in this section was covered with a heavy 
growth of pine and the manufacture of pine timber was a most 
profitable business at that time. "Squire Hunnewell," as he was 
always called, was a justice of the peace for many years and 
was a man of much ability. His death occurred in 1868 and his 
widow still resides upon the old farm with her daughter and 
son-in-law. The Hunnewell residence is in the plantation of 
St. Francis, though the island and a large part of the farm is in 
St. John Plantation. 

Continuing up the river road through St. Francis, we pass 
the farm of the late Mr. John Sinclair and soon come to Mr. 
Charles McPherson's, one of the oldest residents of the town. 
He came here with his father sixty-one years ago, and has lived 
at St. Francis ever since. His father, Mr. Charles McPherson, 
was born in Rhode Island, whence he removed to Restigouche, 
N. B., and came to St. Francis in 1829. He lived here some 
twenty years, and then removed to Mattawamkeag. His son 
Charles, the present proprietor of the farm, remained at St. 
Francis, where he has ever since been engaged in farming and 
lumbering and is one of the principal citizens of the town. He 
is now seventy years old but is hale and hearty. 

Opposite the mouth of the St. Francis River which enters 
the St. John about fifteen miles above Fort Kent is the large 
estate owned and occupied for many years by the late Martin 
Savage, Esq. This estate consisted of three large and very 
handsome islands and a large farm on the main land. The house 
is a handsome two story building, built and finished in the most 
thorough manner and conveniently arranged in every part. On 
the opposite side of the road are a number of large barns and 
stables in which Mr. Savage always kept a fine stock of horses 
and cattle. Years ago, when Mr. Savage was living and his 
family circle was unbroken, this was one of the pleasantest 
homes in Aroostook. Here unbounded hospitality reigned and 



192 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK: 

friends were always sure of a cordial and warm-hearted welcome. 
Many merry parties have gathered around that ample board and 
joined in social pleasures within those spacious and handsome- 
ly furnished rooms. Mr. Savage was the son of Daniel Savage 
and moved to St. Francis about 1850. He engaged extensively 
in farming and raised large crops of grain which found a ready 
market in the lumber woods. He also carried on lumber opera- 
tions to a considerable extent and was for many years engaged 
in trade at St. Francis. He also owned an interest in the starch 
factory at Frenchville and at the time of his death, which oc- 
curred in 1888, was possessed of a large property. After his 
death the estate at St. Francis was sold by the heirs, and his 
widow and three daughters, all that remain of a large family, 
are now living in the State of Washington. That part of the 
farm lying upon the main land is now owned by Mr. Neal Mc- 
Lean, an old resident of the town who has long been engaged 
in lumbering operations upon the upper St. John. The islands 
have been purchased by parties living upon the Provincial side 
of the river. 

A short distance above Mr. McLean's the road runs along 
the summit of a high "horseback" formation thrown up to a con- 
siderable height from the midst of a beautiful plain. The view 
from this point is very fine, and as one looks down the river 
from this "horseback" the landscape scenery, consisting of 
river, islands and large cultivated fields, forms a picture of rare 
beauty. Aroostook is full of grand viev/s and beautiful land- 
scape pictures, but nowhere are they more beautiful than upon 
the upper St. John. 

Above the mouth of the St. Francis the St. John is wholly 
within the State of Maine. The St. Francis is the boundary 
river from that point to the extreme northern point of the State, 
which is the northwestern corner of "Big Twenty," that town- 
ship running entirely across the State and being bounded on 
three sides by Canadian territory. The plantation of St. Fran- 
cis comprises Township 17, Range 9, and is thickly settled along 
the river, but has few settlers upon other parts of the town. 
There is much good land along the river but the land further 
back is not so fertile. Not far from Mr. McLean's is a deposit 
of slate of fine quality and lying so as to be very easily quarried. 

The Catholic Church of St. Charles is located in this planta- 
tion and was build by Father Sweron in 1870. The population 
is 461, a majority of whom are French. 

The Allegash Plantation above St. Francis is still another 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 198 

organized plantation and there are many fine farms with large 
and costly buildings both upon the main river and upon the Alle- 
gash. Though these farmers are far distant from the business 
centers and their products cannot be shipped to outside markets, 
yet the large lumber business carried on in their immediate 
vicinity creates a demand for all their surplus products and 
brings a good cash market to their own doors. On this account 
their business has been a prosperous one and many improve- 
ments have, within the last few years, been made in the farms 
and farm buildings of this section. A large extent of country, 
including the Allegash and Little Black settlements, has been 
organized as Allegash Plantation and thus the settlers are per- 
mitted to exercise the right of suffrage and also to raise money 
for school purposes and to draw their proportional part of the 
State stipend. This plantation has a population of 83, a large 
majority of whom are of English descent. 

The turnpike road road extends up the river some four 
miles above the mouth of the St. Francis, and beyond that point 
the travel in summer is wholly by boats upon the river. The 
road has been laid out, however, by the County Commissioners 
as far up as the mouth of the Allegash; and justice to the set- 
tlers in this upper country demands that it be opened for travel. 
In the winter a good road is kept open on the river as far up as 
Seven Islands and large quantities of supplies are hauled up 
the river to the lumber camps above. A few miles from the 
mouth of the St. Francis, if we cross to the north bank of the 
St. John, we find a "portage" which leads through the woods 
some two miles to Fall Brook. This is a rough and noisy little 
stream flowing in a northeasterly direction across Township 17, 
R. 10, and emptying into the St. Francis a mile or two above the 
mouth of that river. The portage strikes the stream at the 
falls where the water dashes down over steep ledges, foams 
and rushes among large bowlders so near together that we can 
leap from one to another and cross the brook to a fine camping 
ground on the other side. Here, we think, may be found today 
a tall pine stump hewn smooth on its sides and inscribed with 
the names of a merry party of some forty men, women and chil- 
dren who camped here for two nights twenty years ago. Six 
miles above the falls on this stream is a small lake in which 
trout are found in great abundance. 

The Allegash River enters the St. John from the south some 
twelve miles above the mouth of the St. Francis. It is a large, 
strong, flowing river fed by numerous lakes, and with its many 



194 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

tributary streams drains a large timber producing region. 

At the mouth of the Allegash is a large farm where many 
years ago lived Mr. Samuel Bolton, father of the present sheriff 
of Aroostook County. Here Mr. Bolton raised large crops of 
hay and grain for the lumber woods and his house was a place 
of entertainment for lumbermen on their way to and from the 
camps. 

Three miles above the mouth of the Allegash we come to 
the mouth of Little Black River, which rises away up in Canada 
and flowing in a southeasterly course enters the St. John on its 
northern side in Township No. 17, R. 11. The country in the 
vicinity of the Allegash and Little Black has been considerably 
improved within a few years and the good farms and substan- 
tial farm buildings give evidence of the prosperity of the set- 
tlers upon the newly organized Allegash Plantation. 

Formerly the larger portion of the supplies for the lumber 
camps and also for the stores along the river was boated up the 
river from Fredericton. The boats used were large, flat bottomed 
scows with a cabin built upon the after end in which the boat- 
man ate and slept, and upon the top of which the helmsman 
stood and steered the boat by means of a huge rudder. Some 
of these boats are capable of carrying two hundred barrels of 
pork, and are drawn up the river by horses. Two horses are 
attached to each boat by a long warp and are guided by a rider 
on the back of the near horse. The horses travel upon the 
beach whenever a "tow-path" can be found, but are often 
obliged to wade in deep water and in many places to swim the 
river as the tow-path changes from side to side. In the late 
fall when ice begins to form it is cold work for men and horses. 
Since the extension of the railroad to Edmundston supplies have 
been forwarded to that point and they will now come to Clair 
station opposite Fort Kent, and thus the tow-path will be very 
much shortened. Many supplies for the camps on the upper 
St. John are also brought by the Grand Trunk to L'Islet and St. 
Jean Port Joli on the St. Lawrence and thence hauled through 
the woods to Seven Islands and from there to the different camps. 

Further on up the river, above Big Rapids we come to the 
Simmons farm on the north bank of the St. John. This farm 
was cleared many years ago for the purpose of raising hay and 
grain for the lumber woods, but latterly it has not been so well 
cultivated. A few miles further on brings us to Seven Islands. 
We are now some seventy miles above Fort Kent, but find the 
St. John nearly as wide here as at Woodstock. Seven Islands 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 195 

has for many years been the most important point in all this 
forest region and has long been the depot of supplies for large 
lumbering operations. The old Gary farm is situated on the north 
bank of the river and includes also the islands which give the 
place its name, some of which contain many acres of fertile land 
and produce large crops of hay and grain. Many years ago 
Hon. Shepard Gary of Houlton carried on an immense lumber 
business on the St. John and Allegash and cleared up this farm 
for the purpose of producing supplies and also to serve as a 
depot for his extensive operations. The house is a large story 
and a half structure standing near the river bank and containing 
a number of ample rooms, the largest of which is the big dining 
room, with its long table, at which many hungry men have been 
fed. In the kitchen is a huge stone fireplace with its long iron 
crane upon which are hung the big pots in which many a tooth- 
some meal has been cooked. There are a number of large barns 
upon the farm, the boards with which they are covered having 
been sawed with a whipsaw from the clearest and soundest of 
pine lumber. Upon the main land above the house is a large 
tract of level land of great fertility and under good cultivation. 
This large farm was for many years the property of the firm of 
Gary & Gunliffe, and afterwards of the firm of Gunliffe & Stev- 
ens, during which time large numbers of fine blooded animals 
were kept upon the farm. The estate now belongs to Mr. Arthur 
DeGhaine, a former resident of Ganada, who is extensively en- 
gaged in farming and lumbering. 

On the opposite side of the river is the large farm of Mr. 
Frank Gurrier, which consists of many acres of fine, productive 
land and has commodious and well constructed buildings. Mr. 
Turrier has lived here for many years and has engaged quite 
extensively in farming and lumbering, in which business he 
has been very successful. There are a number of other farms 
in the immediate vicinity, making quite a little settlement, the 
farthest from tide water on the upper St. John. The settlers 
were at one time organized as the Plantation of Seven Islands, 
and for a number of years the returns from Seven Islands were 
anxiously looked for before the result of an election could be 
formally declared. The present proprietor of the "Big Farm" 
not being an American citizen, the plantation a number of years 
ago lost its organization and Allegash now has the honor of be- 
ing the farthest up river precinct to which politicians devote 
their attention. From Seven Islands a good road leads out 
across Black River to the Ganadian border and continues on to 



196 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

the St. Lawrence, the distance from Seven Islands to L'Islet 
being about forty miles. 

Should we continue our journey up the St. John we should 
find that we have left behind us the last settlement in Aroostook 
County in this direction, and must conclude that at last we are 
in the woods. We may yet push on for more than twenty miles 
by the river before we reach the confines of Aroostook, for our 
course is now a southerly one, and when we cross the County 
line we find ourselves in the northern part of Somerset County. 
A few miles farther on we come to the forks, where the two 
branches of the river unite, and if we continue on up the St. 
John the boundary between Maine and the Dominion of Canada 
but now upon the western instead of the northeastern border of 
the State. 

As we have reached at Seven Islands the Ultima Thule of 
Aroostook settlements upon the St. John we will return and 
make our way up the AUegash and see what we can find there 
in the way of cultivated improvements. The Allegash for some 
distance above its mouth is a rapid, noisy, strong flowing river 
during the open season, but we have travelled alone on its 
glassy surface in winter, when the bright sun of a quiet Sabbath 
morning was just tinting the tree tops on its rugged banks, and 
when hardly a sound was heard to break the stillness of Nature's 
grand solitude. At such times we were always reminded of 
Cooper's matchless tales and we think it must have been from 
just such scenes as can here be found that he derived much of 
his grand inspiration. 

Twelve miles above the mouth we come to the falls, where 
the river dashes and tumbles over a rocky precipice and sends 
great islands of foam floating down the swift current below. On 
the face of the rock visitors have cut their autographs, one 
bearing date as early as 1833. Above the falls a number of 
settlers have made clearings and have comfortable homes. Jos- 
eph Gilbert, Thomas Moore, Thomas Larry and George McKin- 
non have here made openings in the forest and established their 
homes far from any road except in winter. Away to one side of 
the beaten track these families lead a quiet, peaceful life, while 
the busy, noisy world with its weary strife and endless contests 
moves on all unheeded and uncared for. 

Three miles above the falls we come to the farm of Mr. 
Finley McLellan, who settled here many years ago and has now 
a good farm and comfortable buildings. It is a hospitable home 
and the traveller on reaching here is always sure of a kindly wel- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 197 

come. Being the last house for many miles it is a landmark 
in this section and distances are reckoned as so many miles from 
"Finley's," as from a point of departure. 

We passed the mouths of numerous small streams and 
twelve miles above the falls came to the mouth of the Musqiia- 
cook, a river of considerable volume flowing northward into the 
Allegash from a long lake which extends away down into 
Piscataquis County. Large lumber operations are carried on 
upon this stream and many logs are driven from it every spring. 
Mr. S. Walter Stevens has cut about seven millions upon Mus- 
quacook each year for a number of years and will this winter 
cut about the same quantity. Mr, W. H. Cunliffe's operation 
this winter will be upon the Allegash on Township 14 and 15, 
Range 11 and 12, 13, 14 and 15 R. 12. Both these operators 
have a large number of men and horses already in the woods, 
and with a favorable winter will have large drives. 



LIMESTONE 



Directly north of Fort Fairfield in the tier of townships 
lying along the boundary line lies the flourishing town of Lime- 
stone. Unlike many of the comparatively new towns in Aroos- 
took County, the first opening made upon this forest township 
was for manufacturing instead of agricultural purposes. 

In the year 1845 Gen. Mark Trafton of Bangor, then Custom 
House Officer at Fort Fairfield, conceived the idea of building 
a mill upon the forest tract to the north of that town for the 
purpose of manufacturing clapboards to be shipped to Boston 
market. The township was then known as Letter E, Range 1, 
and was wholly in its original wilderness state. A strong flow- 
ing stream ran through the township and emptied into the Aroos- 
took River a short distance above its junction with the St. John. 
In the report of the Scientific Survey this stream was denomin- 
ated Limestone Stream, from the geological formation near its 
mouth, and was so named on the Maine charts, though known 
in New Brunswick as Little River. 

Gen. Trafton associated with himself Mr. B. D. Eastman 
of Washington County, who was at that time living at Fort 
Fairfield, and having previously obtained from the State Legis- 
lature a grant of 1600 acres of land in aid of building the mill. 



198 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

commenced in June, 1845, to clear a tract of land on the bank of 
Limestone Stream, upon which it was proposed to erect the mill. 
Mark Trafton, Jr., a son of Gen Trafton, was also admitted as 
a partner in the enterprise, and the new company was called 
the' Limestone Mill Company. With a party of axe men to 
clear the way through the forest, and with one pack horse to 
carry their provisions, they crossed the Aroostook River at Fort 
Fairfield and travelled through the forest in due north course 
until they struck the Limestone Stream. A large clearing was 
made during that summer and the next year, the summer of 1846, 
the new mills were built. A substantial dam was built across 
the stream and upon this dam was erected the saw mill con- 
taining an up and down saw, clapboard machine and shingle 
machine, and also a grist mill with one run of stones. The 
shingle machine was a Muzzy machine built in Bangor and 
hauled by ox team to Houlton, thence across to Woodstock, 
whence it was boated up the St. John and Aroostook Rivers to 
Fort Fairfield and hauled through the woods to the mill. The 
grist mill was built because the company had faith that the town 
would soon be settled and that then the mill would be needed. 
In the fall of 1846 the mill was completed and the business of 
sawing clapboards was commenced. A road was cut through 
the woods from the mill to the St. John River at a point called 
Merritt's Landing, about ten miles below Grand Falls, and over 
this road the clapboards were hauled during the following win- 
ter, and in the spring of 1847 they were rafted and floated down 
the river to Fredericton, whence they were shipped to Boston. 

In the following year the road was made passable for wag- 
ons in the summer time. In 1847 the Traftons sold their in- 
terest in the enterprise to Mr. George A. Nourse, a son of Dr. 
Nourse of Bath, who had come to the forest of Aroostook for 
the benefit of his health. In 1848 the new firm of Nourse & 
Eastman built another small clapboard mill about a mile up- 
stream from the original mill, and in 1849 undertook the haz- 
ardous experiment of driving bunches of clapboards down the 
stream with the intention of taking them from the water when 
the drive reached the St. John River and there rafting them. 
They turned 400,000 of pine clapboards in bunches into the 
stream and started to drive them down the stream as they would 
a drive of logs. The experiment proved unsuccessful and re- 
sulted in the loss of nearly the entire lot of clapboards. This, 
with other misfortunes, caused the failure of Nourse & Eastman 



HISTORY OF AROaS,TOOK 199 

in 1851, and for a number of years not much business was done 
at the mills. 

In 1847 the township was lotted and opened for settlement. 
In that year Andrew Phair took up a lot on the hill near the mill 
and Bernard McLaughlin took a lot some two miles distant, at 
what is now known as the "Four Corners." They were the first 
settlers who came upon the township for the purpose of farm- 
ing, although some crops had already been raised by the Mill 
Company on the tract of land cleared near the stream. In the 
same year Orrin Davis took up a lot on the road opened from 
the mill to the St. John River, about a mile distant from the mill. 
At that time lots were sold to actual settlers for $1.25 per acre, 
50 cents of which was to be paid in money and the remainder 
in road labor. 

After the inauguration of Gen. Taylor as President, Gen. 
Trafton retired from the custom House at Fort Fairfield and was 
elected as a representative to the State Legislature and it was 
largely through his influence that a change was made in the 
law relating to settling lands. The price of land was that year 
reduced to 50 cents per acre to actual settlers, the whole amount 
to be paid in road labor. A number of the earlier settlers who 
had already performed the requisite amount of road labor under 
the old law, but who had not made the required cash payment, 
now took certificates under the new law and again paid for their 
lots in road labor at 50 cents per acre. 

The years immediately following the failure of Nourse & 
Eastman were hard years for the little settlement. No business 
was done at the mill and the greater part of the settlers left the 
town. Mr. Albion Whitney, foreman in the mill, removed to 
Minnesota, where, being unsuccessful in business, he removed 
to California, where he amassed great wealth in trade. 

In 1857 Ephraim Osborn and Daniel Libby obtained pos- 
session of the mills and business at once revived. During the 
next four years there was a large immigration to the town and 
many lots were taken up. In that year Daniel Libby was ap- 
pointed local agent for the town and he at once proceeded to 
lay out roads in different parts of the town for the convenience 
of the new settlers. Among those who came to the town in the 
years 1857 — 61 (which was a most important period in the his- 
tory of the new settlement) and who remained to become prom- 
inent citizens of Limestone, adding much to its wealth and in- 
fluence, were I. W. Kennerson, J. E. Spear, L. G. Morris, Josiah 
M. Noyes, Hosea Webster, Josiah Ward, R. B. Chase, Charles 



200 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Stetson, P. B. Sayward and James Edgecomb. Mark Trafton, 
who had previously married a daughter of Daniel Libby, came 
to the town in 1857 and bought a lot of land on the tract granted 
to the Mill Company, about a half mile from the mill on the 
road to the St. John River. Here Mr. Trafton made a fine farm, 
upon which he continued to reside until 1888. In connection 
with his farming operations, Mr. Trafton commenced trading 
In 1863, and in 1876 established a store at the mills, where he 
and his son, Charles W. Trafton, have continued to trade until 
recently, Mr. Trafton retired from the business and his son 
is now sole proprietor. In 1889 Mr. Trafton built a beautiful 
mansion on the high ground east of the mill and fitted it up with 
much taste and elegance, and with all the modern conveniences. 

Messrs. Osborne & Libby continued to operate the mills 
until 1866, when they sold to Mr. Dennis Getchell. Mr. Getchell 
at once put in a large rotary and planer and made many other im- 
provements. In 1877 the mills were destroyed by fire and about 
the same time Mr. Getchell died. His sons proceeded at once 
to rebuild the mills and have since continued the business under 
the firm name of Getchell Bros. 

The history of Limestone during the war is much like that 
of many other of the new towns in Aroostook County which 
were at that time in the early stages of development. The 
breaking out of the war found the town with nearly every avail- 
able lot taken, and small clearings were being made in all parts 
of the town. Many of the younger protion of the settlers, who 
had just commenced the work of clearing their new farms, 
went into the army and a large portion of them never returned 
to the town. Since the war the growth of the town has been 
gradual and no great number of settlers have come in at any 
one time. The soil proved to be as fertile as any in Aroostook 
and, being free from stone, was easy to clear and to bring under 
cultivation and there are now in this town some of the finest 
farms to be found anywhere in the county. 

In 1876 a starch factory was built at the mills by the firm 
of Eustis & Aldrich of Boston, and Mr. Alfred Lovering of Cole- 
brook, N. H. The establishment of this enterprise at once gave 
a great impetus to the business of the town and was of immense 
benefit to the farmers. They at once went to wrok to smooth 
up their fields and to fit them for the working of farm machin- 
ery and for the easy cultivation of the potato crop on a more 
extensive scale. The business also brought much ready money 
to the farmers of the town and thus enabled them to improve 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 201 

their farms and build better buildings. Hardly a log house is 
now to be seen in the town and one is struck with the number 
of fine farm buildings, neatly finished and painted, to be found 
in all parts of the town. The mills and starch factory served as 
a nucleus around which has grown up a handsome little village 
which is destined to grow and become one of the handsomest 
country villages in Maine. 

The starch factory is now owned by Mr. C. W. Trafton, 
who last year manufactured nearly 250 tons of starch. About 
1885 Mr. Josiah M. Noyes bought the privilege where the second 
clapboard mill was built by Nourse & Eastman, about a mile up 
the stream fro tmhe village. Upon this site Mr. Noyes erected 
a large new mill which is a model of its kind. 

The village of Limestone is beautifully situated in the 
valley of the stream, the land rising gradually upon either side 
and broadening out in every direction into large and well cul- 
tivated farms, with smooth and fertile fields. The houses in the 
village are neat and the grounds around them tidy and well 
kept, and the whole aspect of the place is one of thrift and 
enterprise. There is very little waste land in the town, and 
nearly every lot could be made into a good farm. There is 
still considerable vacant land in the town belonging to proprie- 
tors, though every State lot is taken up. It is safe to say that 
there is hardly a lot in the County fit for settlement now be- 
longing to the State. This shows how much more quickly the 
resources of Aroostook might have been developed, and her 
forests converted into fertile farms had the State retained pos- 
session of all townships suitable for settlement, and lotted them 
out for the benefit of those who wished to make homes for them- 
selves and families. Mr. Jerre Hacker of Fort Fairfield owns 
a large tract in the northern part of the town, which he is offer- 
ing to settlers at a reasonable price. Other proprietors are alse 
willing to sell good land upon fair terms. 

The Plantation of Limestone was originally organized in 
1848, but subsequently lost its organization and was reorgan- 
ized in 1858. In the early days of the settlement of the town, 
schools were supported by private subscription, and after the 
organization in 1858, schools were established and supported 
by taxation. The town was incorporated in 1868 and at once 
adopted the town system of schools, which has been maintained 
ever since and has given general satisfaction. The schools of 
the town are now in good condition and are generally supplied 
with comfortable schoolhouses. 



202 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

The population of Limestone in 1880 was 655 and its valu- 
ation $76,583. In 1890 the valuation was $149,938, and its popul- 
ation was 933. The rate of taxation is .916. 

Limestone has a fertile soil, grand water power and favor- 
able location, and we see no reason why the town has not a 
grand future before it when its resources shall be fully de- 
veloped. 



DYER BROOK 



Though the development of Aroostook County has thus far 
been more rapid in the two tiers of townships lying next to the 
eastern border, yet there are in the western part of the county 
many fine agricultural towns with strong, fertile and productive 
soil and grand natural resources, only awaiting the opening of 
adequate means of transportation to develop into populous and 
prosperous communities. Of these western townships the plant- 
ation of Dyer Brook is naturally one of the best. This town- 
ship was formerly known as No. 5, R. 4, and has Merrill Planta- 
tion on the north, Oakfield on the east. Island Falls on the south 
and Hersey on the west. The stage road from Houlton to Pat- 
ten runs through the entire length of the township in a south- 
erly and southwesterly direction near its eastern border. The 
surface of the town in this section is rolling and somewhat hilly, 
but not sufficiently broken to interfere with easy cultivation. In 
the western portion of the town are broad stretches of more level 
land still in its forest state and containing much fine farnr.ing 
land. 

The first settlement was made upon the town about the 
year 1844, as nearly as we have been able to trace it. In that 
year Mr. Orrin Laughton came from Smyrna and took the lot 
near the northeast corner of the town, upon which Mr. J. E. 
Tarbell now lives. Mr. Laughton made a clearing upon the lot 
and built a log house. After living on it a number of years he 
sold to a Mr. McMonagal, who died a few years after purchas- 
ing it. Mr. Oliver Dow then took the place, but abandoned it 
after a few years and the lot reverted to the proprietors of the 
town. In 1857 Mr. J. E. Tarbell took the place and cleared up 
a large farm and built a handsome set of buildings. 

Benjamin Gerry, the second settler upon the town, came 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 203 

from Smyrna soon after Laughton and took the lot in the ex- 
treme northeastern part of the town, adjoining Mr. Laughton's. 
Here Mr. Gerry cleared up a fine farm, upon which he still 
lives. 

The next man who made a settlement on the township was 
Moses Leavitt, also from Smyrna, who settled in 1850 on the 
lot next west of Laughton's and bordering on the north line of 
the town. The "State road" runs on the north line of the town, 
dividing Dyer Brook from Merrill Plantation, and continuing 
west on the line between Hersey and Moro, intersects the stage 
road from Patten to Ashland, some two miles from the western 
line of Hersey. This road was cut through at the time that Mr. 
Leavitt settled upon his lot, but was not made passable for car- 
riages until several years afterwards. It is now a good turnpike 
road and runs through a fine agricultural section for much of 
the way. 

The road from the East branch through Dyer Brook to 
Island Falls, now a part of the stage route from Houlton to 
Patten, was opened in 1860, and in that year Mr. Jonathan 
Sleeper of Smyrna took the lot south of the Tarbell farm on the 
Island Falls road. Mr. Sleeper made a clearing on the lot, built 
a house and barn and after a few years moved to Sherman. Mr. 
John Heald then took the farm and extended the clearing. After 
living upon it a few years he sold to Mr. Seward Clough, who 
now lives upon the farm. 

Mr. Asa R. Hall and Mr. John Gerrish came to Dyer Brook 
twelve years ago and bought in company a wild tract of 170 
acres, to which they have since added 84 acres more. They 
commenced at once at once to clear up a farm and now have 
nearly one hundred acres of cleared land, divided into meadow, 
pasture and tillage. After passing the Hall and Gerrish farm 
we again descend to lower ground and after crossing a brook 
ascend to a handsome ridge of land, one of the finest in the 
town. On the west side of the road is the farm of Mr. Eben D. 
Townsend, who came from Limerick, York County, 29 years 
ago and bought this lot of Messrs Baldwin and Thompson of 
Bangor, who were at that time proprietors of the town. There 
was no clearing on the lot when Mr. Townsend came to it and 
after clearing eight acres and building a log house and log barn, 
he enlisted in the 7th Maine Regiment and went South to fight 
for his country and was wounded at Fort Steadman. At the 
close of the war he came back to the little farm in the woods 
and has since made a large and very handsome farm. The old 



204 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

log buildings have given place to a good frame house and barn. 
Mr. Townsend is now unable to do much hard work and his son 
has the active management of the farm. 

On the east side of the road, opposite Mr. Townsend, is 
the farm of Mr. W. G. Drew, a son of Samuel Drew, who was 
one of the early settlers of the town of Smyrna. Mr. Drew and 
Mr. S. C. Philpot formerly carried on the business of farming 
in company, but divided their land a number of years ago. Mr. 
Drew has a very fine farm, with about eighty acres of cleared 
land handsomely located. Mr. S. C. Philpot is located next 
south of Mr. Drew on the east side of the road. Mr. Philpot came 
from New Limerick twenty-seven years ago and took a lot on 
this beautiful hardwood ridge. He was a soldier in the 16th 
Maine Regiment. 

Next south of Mr. Townsend on the west side of the road 
is the farm of Mr. James I. Meserve, who came from Liming- 
ton to Aroostook County in 1839, and lived seven years with 
Mr. True Bradbury in New Limerick. He then returned to Lim- 
ington and in 1862 came to Dyer Brook and bought this lot, 
upon which Mr. John Downs had made a clearing of a few acres 
and built a small house and log barn. He now has about 120 
acres of good land, with fifty acres cleared and under good cul- 
tivation. 

Mr. F. M. Stevens has a good farm on the east side of the 
road opposite Mr. Meserve's, and beyond him are the farms of 
O. A. Lougee, James Clark and Mr. A. Keith. Passing these 
farms the road runs through a very handsome tract of green 
wood, the tall trees growing close to the road on either side and 
making a very pleasant drive on a summer day. Near this 
south line of the town, a road turns to the east from the stage 
road, and crossing the east part of the town a short distance 
from the line between Dyer Brook and Island Falls, continues 
on through Oakfield to Linneus Corner. Turning into this road 
we first come to the farm of Wm. C. Alward. This lot was 
taken up in 1858 by Mr. Charles Moore, who enlisted in the 8th 
Maine Regiment and died in Andersonville Prison. Mr. Alward 
came from New Brunswick thirteen years ago and bought the 
farm. It is somewhat hilly and broken but the soil appears to 
be productive. Beyond Mr. Alward's we ride through a beau- 
tiful piece of forest for a mile and a quarter, when we come to 
the farm of Mr. J. W. Edwards on the shore of Pleasant Lake. 
Mr. Alfred Moore came from the town of Gouldsboro in 1859 
and took up this lot and cleared about twenty-five acres before 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 205 

the war. He then went into the 18th Maine Regiment and after 
the close of the war lived upon the farm a short time and then 
sold it to Mr. Albert Kelso. Mr. Edwards came from Searsport 
in 1879 and bought the place of Mr. Kelso. Mr. Edwards was 
a soldier in the 19th Maine Regiment. A short distance beyond 
Mr. Edwards's house the road again enters the beautiful green- 
wood, through which we ride for a mile and then emerge into 
the opening in which is the farm of Mr. Cornelius Lane. Mr. 
Lane came from Freeport in 1858 to find a home in Aroostook. 
He had in his mind the ideal of the location he wished to find 
and when shown this lot he desired to go no further. Although 
in the midst of a dense forest he saw what might be made of 
it and purchased it at once and went to work to make his home. 
He had cleared about twelve acres and built a small house, 
when his country's call sounded and he went to the war in the 
ranks of the 2d Maine Cavalry. He was not mustered out of 
the service until December, 1865, when he returned to his wood- 
land home. He has now 175 acres of land with 65 acres cleared. 

Beyond Mr. Lake's there is no opening in the forest until 
we reach the clearings at Oakfield. All the eastern part of Dyer 
Brook is still virtually an unbroken wilderness invaded only by 
the hardy lumberman, the adventurous hunter and periodically 
recurring incursions of the surveying party locating the still 
mythical Aroostook Railroad. It is a fine timber tract, but 
there is so much good land suitable for farms and were it the 
property of the State and opened for settlement on the same 
terms that other towns have been would soon be occupied by 
thrifty settlers. 

The township was first organized as a plantation in 1863, 
but afterward lost its organization and was again organized on 
July 14, 1880, at which time there were 41 voters. It was in- 
corporated as a town by act of the last Legislature, but has not 
yet held a meeting as provided by that act. 

The war record of Dyer Brook is an exceptionally good one. 
At the breaking out of the war there were twenty-five men living 
in the plantation, seventeen of whom were subject to military 
duty. Every man of the seventeen went to the army and five 
of them never returned. 

As an agricultural town Dyer Brook will take high rank 
when an impulse is given to its development by the opening of 
the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad. The population in 1890 
was 221 and the valuation $35,582. 



206 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

ISLAND FALLS 



In the whole of Aroostook County there is no more pictur- 
esque town than Island Falls and none where the natural scenery 
is more beautiful. It is a sportsman's paradise and is becoming 
noted as a pleasant, healthy and beautiful sunmier resort. Its 
lakes, rivers and wooded hills add much to the attractiveness of 
the town, and nowhere is there a purer air or a more comfort- 
able summer temperature than here. 

The west branch of Mattawamkeag River enters the town 
near the northwest corner and, after flowing south for nearly 
two miles and being enlarged by the confluence of Fish Stream, 
sweeps madly through a rocky gorge and dashes over precipitous 
ledges, forming one of the finest falls in the country. Midway of 
the falls is a small island, its rocky sides rising abruptly from 
the water and dividing the swift current. This little wooded is- 
land in the midst of the falls gives the name to the town of 
Island Falls. After leaping the falls the river continues in a 
course a little south of east for nearly three miles, when it emp- 
ties into Mattawamkeag Lake, a beautiful body of water which 
covers a large portion of the eastern part of the town. 

Previous to 1842 no white man had pitched his habitation 
in this picturesque region. Indians from the Penobscot and Pas- 
samaquoddy tribes were accustomed to spend a part of the year 
hunting and fishing in this vicinity and had their camps near 
the falls. They even continued their visits for some years after 
the white man invaded the region and during the first years of 
the little settlement, while the hardy pioneer was felling the for- 
est trees and clearing up fertile tracts of land near the banks 
of the dashing river the crack of the Indian's rifle woke the 
echoes in the surrounding forest, and the gentle dip of his pad- 
dle parted the waters of the river and lake as he glided along in 
his light birch canoe. 

In 1842 Levi Sewall and Jesse Craig came from Farming- 
ton to search for a chance to make a home in the forests of 
Aroostook. Coming to Patten, they turned eastward through the 
town of Crystal and after traveling a few miles came to the end 
of the road. They then followed the streams down to the West 
Branch, in what is now the town of Island Falls. As soon as 
Mr. Sewall discovered the falls he at once saw that here was a 
valuable water power which might at some time be improved 
and utilized for manufacturing purposes. He therefore deter- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK , 207 

mined to look no farther, but to make this place his home. He 
at once went to work and felled five acres of trees near the falls 
and then returned to Farmington. The town was then the pro- 
perty of the State of Massachusetts and Mr. Sewall bought a 
tract one mile square, including the falls. In March, 1843, he 
returned to Aroostook with two two-horse teams and one single 
sleigh, bringing with him his family, which consisted of his 
wife and six children. Leaving his wife and the younger chil- 
dren at Mr. William Young's in Crystal, Mr. Sewall with his 
two sons, David and Samuel, came down the stream to the falls, 
cleared up the five-acre chopping, built a log house and on the 
first day fo July, 1843, the family came to their new home. Mrs. 
Sewall was brought down Fish Stream and West Branch in a 
boat, and the girls walked in through the woods by a spotted 
line. 

The family were now settled in the midst of a vast forest 
with no road on the west nearer than Crystal Mill and none on 
the east nearer than Smyrna Mills on the East Branch. Their 
first crop was necessarily put in somewhat late and though 
everything grew abundantly and promised a bountiful harvest, 
a heavy frost on the night of the last of August killed every- 
thing and nothing whatever was harvested from this first crop. 
The prospect looked dark, but the family had the courage need- 
ful for all successful pioneers. The forests abounded in game, 
and the river with fish, which ensured them against suffering 
from hunger and the boys worked at Patten and Crystal and 
earned bread enough to supply the family until another crop 
could be raised. The next year an additional clearing was made, 
a good crop was raised and after that there was no lack of 
bread. 

Mr. Jesse Craig, who came with Mr. Sewall in 1842, took 
160 acres of the mile square block taken by Mr. Sewall, and he 
also made a five acre chopping that year and returned to Farm- 
ington in the fall. In the spring of 1843 he went back and clear- 
ed up his five acres and felled five acres more, living with the 
Sewalls that summer and returning to Farmington in the fall. 
Mr. Craig did not bring his family to Island Falls until the win- 
ter of 1844, when they were brought in on a sled drawn by oxen. 
Mr. Craig cleared up a large farm on the north side of the West 
Branch and kept a hotel here for many years. He was for years 
the only justice of the peace in the town and was treasurer and 
clerk of the town for a long term. He also held the office of 
first selectman much of the time after the organization of the 



208 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

township. He was well known as a man of the strictest honor 
and integrity and was much respected by allhis fellow towns- 
men. Mr. Craig lived to see a flourishing village spring up 
around him and died at a good old age five years ago. 

In 1843, David Lurvey came from Woodstock, Oxford 
County, and settled on a lot north of the West Branch and next 
below Mr. Craig's. He cleared some twenty acres of land, 
built a frame house and barn and then moved to Patten, and 
afterwards to the mouth of the Aroostook road, where he kept 
a hotel for a number of years and then returned to Oxford 
County, where he died a number of years ago. 

Charles W. Harding came from Windham in the spring of 
1844, and settled on the south side of the stream, opposite Mr. 
Sewall's. Here he cleared a farm and built a house and barn, 
and afterwards returned to Windham and died. Charles Han- 
son came with Harding and made a small clearing near his, but 
did not remain long. 

The above named were all the settlers in the town in 1844 
and of these only the Sewalls and Craigs remained permanent- 
ly. No other settler came to join them for eight years. In the 
meantime Mr. Sewall and his sons continued to enlarge their 
clearing and were also engaged in lumbering in the winter sea- 
son. Levi Sewall was for many years a prominent man in this 
section and died at his home in Island Falls, in 1866. His 
widow, three sons and one daughter still reside at the Falls. 

The next settler who came to Island Falls was Mr. Isaac 
Robinson, who came from Oxford County, and after living for 
some time in Crystal, came to Island Falls in 1852 and settled 
on the ridge a mile east of Mr. Craig's. Here he cleared a farm 
upon which he lived until his death in 1858. His son, George 
F. Robinson, then took the farm. He afterwards went into the 
army and gained a national reputation by being instrumental 
in saving the life of Secretary Seward on that terrible night of 
April 14, 1865. He is now a paymaster in the United States 
Army. The Robinson farm is now owned by Mrs. Mary Dow. 

In 1853 Mr. Stephen Thorn came from Freedom and set- 
tled on the lot next to Mr. Robinson's. He made a clearing and 
built a log house and barn and then moved to Crystal, where 
he died some twelve years ago. Mr. John B. Hathorn now owns 
this farm. 

A number of settlers came about this time, very few of 
whom remained. Among those who stayed was Mr. Jacob Man- 
uel, who settled in the north part of the town and made a farm, 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 209 

upon which he lived until his death. About the same year 
(1853) Mr. Cyrus Barker and family came from Kennebec 
County. With him came his son, Addison Barker, and family. 
Mr. Cyrus Barker took four lots for himself and sons on one of 
the most beautiful ridges of land in Aroostook County. It is 
still known as Barker Ridge, though none of the family are now 
living on the tract. Mr. Barker made his first clearing near the 
homestead so long occupied by his son, Capt. Rodney C. Barker. 
He cleared up a large farm and was for many years a prominent 
man in the town. Cyrus Barker died in 1886. His son, Rodney 
C. Barker, then took the farm and made it one of the finest in 
the County. He was largely engaged in lumbering and trading 
and was a prominent business man. He also served in the 
Union Army and received a pension for injuries received in the 
service. He built the first steamboat on Mattawamkeag Lake 
in 1882 and commanded it until his death. The steamer was 
used for towing logs across the lake and also In the summer 
season for excursion parties. Capt. Barker had cottages and 
boats on Norway Island in Mattawamkeag Lake for the use of 
pleasure parties, and it is still a most beautiful summer resort. 
Capt. Barker was a man of much push and energy, had strong 
friends and strong enemies, as such men generally do, but we 
remember him as a genial, whole souled man, a kind husband 
and father and a good friend. He died at his home some five 
years ago and his widow did not long survive him. The Barker 
estate, one of the finest in Aroostook, Is now owned by Geo. E. 
Cutler, Esq., of South Framlngham, Mass. Mr. Addison Bar- 
ker, who lived on the farm adjoining, was killed by a falling 
tree a year or two after coming to the town. 

Up to the year 1854 Island Falls was the property of the 
State of Massachusetts. In that year it came Into the owner- 
ship of the State of Maine and the same year was lotted by Mr. 
Daniel Cummings and opened by the State for settlement. Set- 
tlers now began to come in and take up lots, but the State af- 
terwards most unwisely sold the town to proprietors, by which 
action its settlement has been very much retarded. 

Capt. Daniel Randall, a man well knov/n throughout Aroos- 
took County and Indeed throughout the State, came from Port- 
land to Island Falls in 1859. He was a retired sea captain and 
was for some time city marshal of Portland. Capt. Randall 
bought a farm on Fish Stream, on the road from Island Falls 
to Patten, one mile from the Falls. Here he built up a large 
farm and built a handsome two-story house and good barn. He 



210 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

at once took an active part in the business and also in the poli- 
tics of the county. He engaged in lumbering quite extensively 
and also paid good attention to his farm, which he made pro- 
ductive and profitable. He served two terms as a member of 
the State Legislature and also served as sheriff of Aroostook 
County. He afterward returned to Portland, where he died 
some years ago. He was a man of massive build, weighing 325 
pounds, but active and full of energy. He was a genial, good 
natured man and had many friends. 

Dr. Isaac Donham came from Readfield to Patten in 1858, 
and in 1860 moved to Island Falls and took the lot next to Capt. 
Randall's. He was a druggist and physician in Readfield and 
also practiced medicine in Patten and Island Falls. In 1862 
he entered the service in the 1st Me. Heavy Artillery, and af- 
terwards re-enlisted in the 31st Inf. and died in the hospital 
at City Point, Va., in 1864. His son, Mr. George H. Donham, 
now owns the farm, which consists of 160 acres of land, with 
fifty acres cleared and a good set of buildings. Mr. Donham 
was formerly engaged in trade at Island Falls, but three years 
ago sold his business to Eemrson Bros, and went into the print- 
ing business. He has two presses and does all kinds of job 
printing. He is also chairman of the board of selectmen, town 
clerk, supervisor of schools and trial justice, and may be called 
a fairly busy man. 

In 1861, Mr. Levi H. May moved from Lowell, Mass., and 
took a wild lot in the north part of the town, where he made a 
good farm, upon which he lived until his death six years ago. 
His son, Levi H. May, now lives on the farm. 

Mr. David A. Sewall, the eldest son of Levi Sev/all, has 
long been a prominent man at Island Falls and is well known 
throughout the county. He was largely engaged in lumbering 
for many years. He has been for years an officer of the town 
and was a member of the board of county commissioners for 
eight years. He has a fine residence on the south side of the 
stream and is now living quietly and happily, farming some in 
the summer and sometimes scaling in the woods winters, just 
to keep his hand in. Mr. Samuel Sewall, the second son, has 
a very handsome set of buildings on the north side of the river. 
In company with his brothers he attends to the business of the 
farm, for Levi Sewall's land has not been divided, but his sons 
carry on the farms together and seem to own all things in com- 
mon. The large homestead built by Levi Sewall in 1861 is 
occupied by the youngest son, Mr. Wm. W. Sewall, and with him 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 211 

live his aged mother and only sister, Miss Sarah E. Sewall, 
who holds the commission of postmaster of Island Falls. Mr. 
Wm. W. Sewall was the first white child born at Island Falls, 
and he is a white man in every respect. He has for years been 
a friend and companion of Theodore Roosevelt of New York, 
who formerly came to Island Falls every summer for a few 
weeks' outing. A few years ago Mr. Sewall went with Mr. 
Roosevelt to Dakota and for two years took charge of a large 
cattle ranch for that gentleman. Mr. Sewall also having an 
interest in the business. 

The township was organized as a plantation Sept. 6, 1858. 
At the first meeting Levi Sewall was chosen moderator, Jesse 
Craig, clerk, D. A. Sewall, Cyrus Barker and Nathan Thorn, 
assessors. The town was incorporated in February, 1872. 

We have visited few towns where there is so general a 
community of feeling and such a genuine each-help-the-other 
spirit as in this town of Island Falls. Every man says his 
neighbor is the best fellow in the world, and I think they all 
tell the truth. 



MOLUNKUS AND BENEDICTA 



Two miles west of the village of Macwahoc the Military 
road enters the township of Molunkus, now an unorganized 
plantation with the exception of the little hamlet at the mouth 
of the Aroostook road. This township is in the extreme south- 
west corner of Aroostook County and is bounded on the north 
by the unsettled township No. 1, Range Five, on the east by 
Macwahoc, on the south by Mattawamkeag in Penobscot Coun- 
ty, and on the west by Medway in the same county. The entire 
township, with the exception of a comparatively small tract 
near the mouth of the Aroostook road and a few clearings far- 
ther north upon that road, is still covered with forest growth 
and is owned by non-resident proprietors. 

The old Aroostook road starts from Molunkus and con- 
tinues northward through No. One, Benedicta and Sherman to 
Patten, and thence on to Fort Kent, at the mouth of Fish River. 
The intersection of this road with the Military road at this 
point made Molunkus an important business center for lumber- 
ing operations and for the moving of supplies to the country 
away to the north. 



212 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Soon after the opening of the Aroostook road, a hotel was 
built at Molunkus, the first house of entertainment as near as 
we can determine, having been erected by Mr. Richard Libby, 
who had previously kept the hotel for a number of years at 
Macwahoc. After remaining some years at Molunkus, Mr. Libby 
removed to Mattawamkeag. The hotel was afterwards kept for 
some time by Mr. Samuel Crocker, who was succeeded by the 
Burnham Brothers of Lincoln, who remained some five years. 
Messrs. George and Joseph Libby then had the house for one 
year and were succeeded by Mr. E. H. Davis, who kept it two 
years. In 1865, Mr. B. F. Coburn came from Lincoln and 
bought the hotel of Mr. Davis and continued in the house until 
last spring, when he leased it to Mr. F. A. Wing of Mattawam- 
keag. 

In the souhtwest portion of the township is Mattawamkeag 
Lake, a fine body of water some two miles long and half a mile 
wide. Two streams flow southward and empty into this lake, 
the West Mattesunk being near the west line of the township 
and the East Mattesunk flowing in the more central portion. A 
portion of Molunkus Lake is in the northeastern part of the 
township, the northern portion of the lake being in Number 
One and the southern portion in Macwahoc. The Penobscot 
River skirts the southwestern corner of Molunkus and the Mat- 
tesunk Lake discharges its waters into that river. 

The Molunkus Exchange is seven miles distant from the 
railroad station at Mattawamkeag and daily stages run from 
Mattawamkeag to Patten, stopping at this hotel for dinner. 

Molunkus has now no plantation organization and has but 
a small resident population for a point of so much business im- 
portance. The population of Molunkus in 1890 was 77. 

Leaving the Molunkus Exchange and journeying northward 
on the Aroostook road, after passing a number of primitive 
habitations erected by new settlers, we enter the forest, through 
which we ride for nearly ten miles with only an occasional 
opening in the wilderness. A ride of a little more than four 
miles from Molunkus brings us to the north line of the township 
and here we enter Number One, Range Five, a timber township 
lying along the border of Penobscot County. Five miles from 
Molunkus we come to the farm owned by Mr. Melville Johnson 
of Macwahoc. Two miles farther on, or seven miles from Mo- 
lunkus, is the farm and hotel of Mr. Peter Millmore. Mr. Ste- 
phen Cobb made a clearing and built a house here more than 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 213 

fifty years ago and, after keeping public house for a number of 
years, moved to Michigan. 

The town of Benedicta comprises the western half of town- 
ship No. 2, Range 5. 

Nearly sixty years ago Rt. Rev. Benedict Fenwick, Catholic 
Bishop of Boston, conceived the idea of settling a Catholic col- 
ony upon the cheap lands of northern Maine and also of erect- 
ing and maintaining a Catholic college in connection with the 
colony. The project of establishing the colony was carried out, 
but the idea of the college in northern Maine was afterwards 
abandoned and the proposed institution was located at Wor- 
cester, Mass. The half township selected was then the proper- 
ty of the State of Massachusetts, and on the 7th day of July, 
1834, Bishop Fenwick made his contract for the land. The 
township had been surveyed by Joseph C. Morris and Andrew 
McMillan in 1825. Though Bishop Fenwick purchased the tract 
he did not receive his title to it until March 31, 1846, on which 
date it was deeded to him by George W. Coffin, agent of the 
General Court of Massachusetts. Soon after purchasing the half 
township in 1834, Bishop Fenwick commenced to take measures 
to carry out his project of establishing a colony upon it. The 
township was in the midst of an almost trackless wilderness, 
but it consisted of good land, and large lumber operations were 
being carried on in its vicinity. Midway of the town from north 
to south, village lots were laid out, and in course of a short 
time a church was built, also a parsonage and nearby a tract 
of land was set apart for a college farm. The erection of build- 
ings for the proposed college was commenced, and one large 
college building was nearly completed, when this part of the 
project was abandoned. This building remained unoccupied for 
a number of years, and was finally taken down. The Bishop 
also built a mill on the Molunkus Stream, near the east line of 
the town. This mill contained an up and down saw and shingle 
machine, but was afterwards abandoned and allowed to decay. 

The first settlers came to the town in 1834. The Bishop 
charged the settlers $2 per acre for land upon the line of the 
main road and $1.50 per acre for land farther back, giving them 
all necessary time to make payment for their farms. 

The first settlers upon the town are said to have been David 
and Joseph Leavitt, but whether these men were a part of the 
Bishop's colony or squatters who had come previous to his 
purchase, we have not yet been able to determine. Among the 
first of the Catholic colony to settle upon the town were Nich- 



214 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

olas Broderick, Timothy Dorsey, Martin Qualey, Philip Finne- 
gan and John Millmore, who came in 1834. Patrick Brade, 
Chris. Keegan, John Byrne, Francis Smith and John Perry were 
early settlers, as also were Henry Rivers and Martin Lawlor. 
These settlers were all Irish emigrants who had worked for some 
time in the cities of Massachusetts, Nicholas Broderick, one of 
the earliest settlers, settled in the south part of the town on the 
lot where Fenton McAvoy now lives, and died there some fifteen 
years ago. Timothy Dorsey settled a mile and a half north of 
the church and cleared the farm on which Daniel McDonald 

In 1838 and 1840 quite a number of settlers came in. John 
D. Rush came in 1838 and settled opposite where the church 
now stands, that edifice not having been erected until 1843. 
now lives. 

The Catholic Cemetery is neatly enclosed and carefully 
kept and nearby is the Catholic Church, a comfortable and corn- 
short distance from the church is the parsonage, a neat, two- 
modious edifice of sufficient size for the needs of the parish. A 
story residence now occupied by Father Kearney, who has re- 
cently taken charge of the parish. The college farm, so called, 
is not now cultivated, but is devoted to pasturing and is a part 
of the church property. 

Benedicta may not perhaps be classed among the best half 
townships in Aroostook County for agricultural purposes, but 
it has a good soil, the land lying in a succession of easy swells 
and not very stony. The many good farms and neat and com- 
fortable homes in the town give ample evidence of what a col- 
ony of thrifty and industrious Irish emigrants can accomplish 
under even quite unfavorable circumstances at the beginning of 
their settlement, and the improvement here made bears witness 
to the wisdom and philanthropy of the good Bishop in planting 
this colony here in the wilderness. 

The town was incorporated in 1872 and was named Bene- 
dicta, in honor of its founder. Bishop Benedict Fenwick. It is 
bounded on the north by the town of Sherman, on the east by 
Silver Ridge, on the south by No. 1, Range 5, and on the west 
by Penobscot County. Its citizens are nearly all Catholics of 
Irish descent and are a thrifty, industrious and prosperous com- 
munity. In 1890 the town had a population of 317 and a valua- 
tion of $57,849. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 215 

SILVER RIDGE 



The half township now known as the Plantation of Silver 
Ridge was originally the east half of Township No. 3, Range 
5, the west half of the same township being now the town of 
Benedicta. 

In 1857 the county commissioners of Aroostook County 
were petitioned to locate a road from Benedicta through Silver 
Ridge to Haynesville. At that time the half township was en- 
tirely covered with forest in which no clearing had yet been 
made for settling purposes. The commissioners viewed the route 
and decided not to locate the road as asked for, but the partial 
survey called attention to the excellent land owned by the State 
and lying unimproved. During that year (1857) a number of 
settlers came in and made clearings on the half tov/nship, al- 
though it had not yet been lotted and of course these settlers 
were merely squatters upon the land. Francis Smith, Thomas 
Millmore, Thomas McAvoy and Fenton Seals all from the ad- 
joining town of Benedicta, made clearings that year. 

Silver Ridge lies immediately south of Sherman and the 
mail route from Island Falls to Kingman runs through that 
plantation. Nearly every lot on the road through Silver Ridge 
is settled and there some very fine farmiS and handsome res- 
idences, which would seem to show that the people are pros- 
perous, have comfortable and convenient homes and are making 
a good living. 

The settled portion of the town is confined to the two 
ranges of lots bordering on the main road. The remainder of 
the town is now owned by non-resident proprietors and is not 
generally good land for settling purposes. The plantation of 
Silver Ridge was organized in 1853 and since that time it has 
made a marked increase in the appearance and value of its 
farms and residences, although it has decreased somewhat in 
population during the last decade. 



HERSEY 



The town of Hersey lies along the border of Penobscot 
County and, though yet but partially settled, is naturally one 
of the best townships in western Aroostook for agricultural pur- 



216 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

poses. The town is bounded on the north by Moro, on the east 
by Dyer Brook, south by Crystal and west by Mt. Chase in 
Penobscot County. The old Aroostook road, now the mail route 
from Patten to Ashland, runs diagonally across the northwest 
corner of the town and the State road from Smyrna Mills runs 
on the line between Hersey and Moro and intersects the Aroos- 
took road some two miles from the northwest corner of Hersey. 

The first settlers upon the town of Hersey, then called 
Number Five, Range Five, were Samuel Huston, Timothy Hale, 
Nicholas Cooper and Daniel Cooper. 

Samuel Huston came from Plymouth in Penobscot County, 
in 1839 and settled on a lot on the Aroostook road six miles 
from Patten. Here he cleared up a large farm and was for 
many years one of the leading men of the town and his de- 
scendants are among the prominent citizens. Mr. Huston lived 
upon this farm until a year ago, when he moved to Patten, but 
still retains possession of the farm. 

Mr. Timothy Hale came from Plymouth in 1839 and settled 
on the north half of the lot on which Mr. Seth Allen now lives, 
near the Penobscot County line. Mr. Hale felled fifteen acres 
on this lot, but did not clear the land and after living in the 
town a year or two removed to the West. Mr. Harvey Houghton 
then took the lot and made a small clearing and after remaining 
a year moved to Oxford County. 

Nicholas and Daniel Cooper came from Plymouth in 1839 
and settled on part of the Seth Allen lot and also had a lot in 
the adjoining town of Mount Chase in Penobscot County. Mr. 
Nicholas Cooper built the buildings next north of Seth Allen's, 
where he lived for some twenty years, then moved to Ashland 
and afterward to Moro, where he died. Daniel Cooper did not 
remain in the town. 

James Brown came from the town of Wilton, in Franklin 
County, in 1840, and settled on the lot next north of Nicholas 
Cooper. He cleared a large farm and lived upon it until 1868, 
when he moved to Patten and died. Mr. Brown was a promin- 
ent citizen and was well known throughout this section. 

Nathan Fish came from Jefferson, Lincoln County, in 1840 
and settled near the Mt. Chase line, a short distance from the 
Aroostook road. Here he made a farm upon which he lived 
until about 1859, when he returned to Jefferson and died soon 
afterwards. He was unmarried, and the farm is now unoccupied. 

Daniel Darling came from Hartland, in Somerset County, 
in 1840 and settled north of Samuel Huston's on the farm now 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 217 

occupied by William Monteith. Mr. Darling cleared some twenty- 
acres on this lot, and after living on it four years, moved to the 
adjoining town of Moro. 

Seth Allen came from the town of Sumner, in Oxford Coun- 
ty, in 1842 and two years later bought the lot on which he now 
lives, on the Aroostook road five and one-half miles from Pat- 
ten. Mr. Allen cleared this farm and has lived upon it ever 
since, and is now the oldest settler living in the town. Mr. 
Allen is a veteran of the Civil War, and has always taken an 
active and prominent part in the affairs of his town. Though 
now advanced in years, he is still a hale and hearty man, and 
has not yet given up active work upon the farm. 

Lewis Sargent came to Hersey in 1843 and settled upon part 
of the lot now owned by Seth Allen. He made a clearing and 
lived upon the lot until 1858, when he moved to Mount Chase, 
where he died. 

Columbus Bragg came from Plymouth in 1844 and settled 
on a lot a mile and a half north of Seth Allen's. He cleared 
a portion of the lot and lived on it a few years and moved to 
Stacyville, where he died ten years ago. Josiah Bates came 
from Palmyra in 1845 and settled on the Aroostook road a mile 
south of the mouth of the State road. He made a large clearing 
and lived here two years and moved to Moro. This farm has 
been unoccupied and has grown up to forest again. 

Hon. Wm. W. Thomas of Portland owned the township 
when the settlers first came to it. He afterwards sold it to 
Messrs. Hall and Lewis of Cherryfield, but obtained possession 
of it again soon after and subsequently sold it to Gen. Samuel 
Hersey and Mr. George Stetson of Bangor. 

In the north part of the town, along the State road, a set- 
tlement was made later and on this road are now some of the 
best farms in the town. The earliest settler in this portion of 
the town was Mr. John R. Blynn, who came from Garland, in 
Penobscot County, in 1852, and settled on the lot where Wil- 
liam H. Bates now lives. Mr. Blinn cleared something over 
twenty acres on this lot and lived on it some four years, then 
moved to Bangor and afterwards engaged in peddling. He sold 
the farm to Mr. Stephen P. Bates, who enlarged and improved 
it. Mr. Bates went into the army and was killed near Spottsyl- 
vania. Mr. George L. Bates moved to Hersey from Moro in 
1854 and took the lot where Solomon Bates now lives. In 1861 
he joined the 8th Maine Regiment and after two years service 
was discharged and returned to Hersey and died. 



218 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Mr. Joel P. Jameson came from Lee in Penobscot County 
in 1860 and bought the west half of the lot east of Solomon 
Bates. Mr. Jameson cleared some thirty acres on the lot and 
lived on ii- eight years. He then sold to Mr. Solomon Bates and 
moved to Lincoln. Mr. David L. Lowell came from Lee in 
1860 and settled on the east half of the Jameson lot. He cleared 
some ten acres and then went into the army, where he lost an 
arm, was discharged from the service and died soon after re- 
turning home. The farm passed through a number of hands 
and is now owned by E. E. Kennedy. 

Mr. William Campbell came from New Brunswick in 1860 
and settled on the lot next east of Mr. Lowell. He felled some 
ten acres and then went into the 8th Maine Regiment and served 
through the war. He was promoted to a lieutenancy and did not 
return to Hersey. Mr. James Palmer now has this lot. 

Mr. James Hall came from Garland in 1861 and settled on 
the lot next but one west of Wm. Bates. Mr. Hall cleared fif- 
teen acres on this lot, lived on it some three years, then sold 
to Mr. John Doe and moved to Moro. John McGibney now 
lives on this farm. 

The tov/nship was originally organized as Dayton plantation 
and was incorporated as a town January 25, 1873, and named 
for General Samuel F. Hersey of Bangor, the principal owner 
of the township. The land throughout the town is comparatively 
level, having no abrupt elevations, but containing a number of 
swells of very fine land. 

The West Branch of the Mattawamkeag runs for something 
over three miles across the northeast corner of the town and 
Alder Brook, a tributary of the West Branch, runs diagonally 
in a southeast course across the entire township. In the south- 
west portion of the town is Crystal Lake, a pretty little sheet 
of water, from which Crystal Stream flows southward and emp- 
ties into Fish Stream in the town of Crystal. Huston Brook 
also runs across the southwest quarter of the town and empties 
into Crystal Stream a short distance below the lake. 

The land in this town can be purchased of the proprietors 
at a very reasonable rate and its excellent quality offers ex- 
ceptional inducements for settlers desiring cheap and fertile 
lands in a good town. The population of Hersey in 1890 was 
151, and its valuation $63,783. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 219 

BLAINE 



Not every agricultural section will bear as close inspection 
as will the fertile County of Aroostook. As one rides along the 
main highway from Houlton northward, he is surprised and de- 
lighted with the number of fine farms and handsome farm build- 
ings along this road in the several towns through which the 
road passes, while the view on either hand is most beautiful. 

Some twenty-five miles north of Houlton on the road to 
Presque Isle, and at the point of intersection with the road 
through Mars Hill and Easton to Fort Fairfield, is situated the 
thriving little village of Blaine. It is a busy little inland village 
with neat and handsome residences, and with a beautiful out- 
lying farming district on every hand. 

The town of Blaine includes but a half township and ex- 
tends but three miles north and south and six miles east from 
the boundary line. The first clearing was made upon the town 
nearly fifty years ago, just after the conclusion of that blood- 
less struggle which has passed into history as the famed Aroos- 
took War. 

In 1842, the year in which the Ashburton Treaty was con- 
cluded, Mr. B. W. Chandler came from the town of Winslow and 
cut the first tree upon the town for farming purposes. The spot 
chosen by Mr. Chandler for his new home was the beautiful 
ridge of land just north of the present village and upon the farm 
now occupied by Mr. R. W. Lowell. With the exception of the 
winter lumber roads, there was then no road in all this section 
and the home of this hardy pioneer was miles from any neigh- 
bor, and in the midst of an almost boundless wilderness. Some 
six miles further north could be seen the smoke from the log 
cabin of James Thorncraft, built the year previous on what is 
now the Trueworthy farm in Westfield, but the entire township 
of Mars Hill, and indeed the township of Easton, next beyond 
on the north, was at that time covered with its original forest 
growth as yet unbroken by any clearing. 

During the few years following a number of other settlers 
came upon the town and when Mr. Joel Valley came in 1847 
and commenced a clearing upon the spot where the village is 
now located there were about ten settlers upon the town. To 
one who looks about this busy little village, with its business 
industries and its many indications of lively enterprise, it seems 
hardly possible that the man who cut the first tree upon the 
village site is still one of its active business men and that all 



220 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

this development has been the work of about forty years. 

In the fall of 1847 Mr. Valley came from New Brunswick 
and took a lot which included all the land contained in the 
present village on the east side of the road and extending back 
to the Mars Hill line. He commenced his clearing and built 
his log house nearly upon the spot where the present hotel is 
located. 

Mr. B. W. Chandler was then living on what is now the Low- 
ell farm and Benjamin Bubar had a small clearing on the west 
side of the road a short distance below. William Freeman and 
Sherman Tapley then lived in a double log house which stood 
on the line between what are now the farms of Mr. Tapley and 
Deacon Noble. Freeman had a small clearing on the east side 
of the road on the present Noble farm, and Tapley had a clear- 
ing on the farm where he now lives. Half a mile below Tapley's 
one Rideout had a clearing on the west side of the Houlton road, 
with a log house on the opposite side. 

A short distance below where the road crosses Three 
Brooks, James Clark had a log house and small clearing on 
the west side of the road and William Rideout had commenced 
an opening and built a cabin on the east side opposite Clark's. 
James Oilman lived on the east side of the road in the extreme 
south part of the town next to the Bridgewater line, most of his 
clearing being in that town. 

About a half mile west from where Blaine Corner now is, 
William Roake and Charles DeMerchant had small clearings. 
These settlers were all who were upon the town in 1847 and the 
clearings were then very small and very little improvement 
had been made in the new settlement. 

With Mr. Valley came Joseph Bubar, who settled on the 
west side of the road about three-fourths of a mile south of 
Blaine Corner. 

In the spring of 1848, John Bell came from New Brunswick 
and settled on the west side of the road near the Corner and 
during the same year George Monroe and George Hotham set- 
tled on opposite sides of the road, south of Sherman Tapley's, 
and in the fall Thomas Bell came and bought half of John 
Bell's lot. In 1850 Samuel Brown took a lot about half a mile 
southwest from Blaine Corner. Nearly all the settlers named 
above came from New Brunswick, but later families from dif- 
ferent parts of the State of Maine began to come in and settle 
upon the town. Levi F. Preble came from Chesterville in 1859 
with other settlers who made their homes in Mars Hill. Mr. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 221 

Preble with his family settled in Blaine, where he lived many 
years. 

Blaine, then known as Letter B, Range One, was a half 
township belonging to the State of Massachusetts and the land 
was sold to settlers for $1.20 per acre, payable mostly in road 
labor. A few of the early settlers received deeds from the 
State of Massachusetts, but the greater part of them did not 
complete the payment for their lands until after the town had 
passed into the possession of the State of Maine. Samuel Cook, 
Esq., or Judge Cook, as the settlers called him, one of the pio- 
neer settlers of Houlton, was agent for Massachusetts and at- 
tended to the sale of the lands and the location of the new- 
comers. When the State of Maine came into possession of the 
town the price of the land was reduced to fifty cents per acre 
in road labor and the settlers were credited with the work al- 
ready done under the Massachusetts agent. 

Mr. Joel Valley cleared up the land on the east side of 
the road in the present village and in 1856 built a frame kouse 
on the spot where the hotel now stands. There he at once com- 
menced keeping public house, as there was at that time much 
teaming upon the road, and his house was a convenient stop- 
ping place for teamsters and other travelers going to Presque 
Isle and the country above. He continued in the business un- 
til 1864, when a disastrous fire occurred which swept away every 
building at that time standing at Blaine Corner. In 1866 Mr. 
Valley built the present hotel and the next year sold it, together 
with the farm, to Mr. Joseph Joy. Mr. Joy afterwards sold to 
Stephen Lake, he to Daniel W. Orcutt and he to Jonathan Her- 
som, the present proprietor. Mr. Valley was the first trader in 
the town, though in the early years he had no store but kept 
goods for sale In his house, and when he built his frame house 
he used the old log house for a store. 

The first store at the corner was built by Messrs. Sherman 
and Perkins of Augusta on the site of the present Jones store. 
Perkins soon after sold out to his partner, Lewis Sherman, who 
continued to trade in the stpre until it was burned in 1864. Af- 
ter the fire Mr. Sherman sold out to Bedford Hume, who built 
the store now standing and continued in business for about a 
year, when he sold to Charles F. Collins, a son of Hon. Geo. W. 
Collins, of Bridgewater. Mr. Collins traded in the store some 
two years and then sold to Stephen Lake, who in 1868 sold to 
Benj. F. Jones. Mr. Jones continued in trade and at the same 
time carried on a large lumber business until three years ago, 



222 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

when he sold the store and stock to Mr. John Bubar, the present 
occupant. Mr. Jones still continues to reside in Blaine, though 
a large part of his business is at his mill in Mars Hill, only 
about a mile distant. 

In 1866, Messrs. Jackson and Oakes built the store in which 
R. E. McFarland now trades. After trading a year they were 
succeeded by Henry O. Perry, Esq., who shortly after removed 
to Fort Fairfield and Orlando Robinson occupied the store for 
about two years, when he closed his business and for some 
years the store was vacant. In 1884 Mr, A. O. Nutter, former- 
ly of St. Albans, commenced business in this store, where he 
continued until 1889, when he moved into the store where he 
is now located, and his place was taken by R. E. McFarland of 
Cambridgeport, Mass. 

In 1873 Stephen Lake built the building in which Mr. S. H. 
Hussey now trades. Mr. Lake continued in trade a few years, 
when he sold the building to Mr. Frank Levine, who resided in 
it but did not trade in the store. 

In 1874 Mr. Joseph Chandler built a mill on the Presque 
Isle of the St. John about half a mile from the village. He 
still owns the mill, though it is not at present in operation. 

In 1859 Mr. Wm. Robinson came to Blaine and purchased 
260 acres of land in the south part of the town a short distance 
above the junction of Three Brooks with the Presque Isle 
Stream. Upon this land was a fine mill privilege, and in 1864 
Mr. Robinson built a mill which contained one shingle machine. 
Mr. Robinson died in 1873 and the business was continued by 
his sons, H. O. and F. C. After a short time Harrison O. Rob- 
inson sold out to his brother and removed to Presque Isle, 
where he is now engaged in trade. The business has since been 
conducted by Mr. Fred C. Robinson and has been much en- 
larged and extended. 

For some years after the first settlers came upon the town 
the road from Houlton to Presque Isle was the only road in the 
town and it was a long time before" this was in a passable con- 
dition for travel. It was then so badly cut up by the heavy 
teaming in spring and fall as to render it a most uncomfortable 
highway and it was not until after the extension of the New 
Brunswick Railway to the towns in the Aroostook Valley that 
it became a smooth and easy road for travel. As the heavy 
teaming is now in a great measure discontinued the road is 
kept in fine condition through the town. In 1858 the East road 
was opened, connecting with the East Ridge road in Mars Hill 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 223 

and running in a southerly direction across the town and con- 
tinuing on to Baird's Mills on the boundary line. 

The next road opened was the new County road, which 
starts from Blaine Corner and runs directly south across the 
town on the lot lines connecting with the Houlton road about a 
half mile south of the line between Blaine and Bridgewater. 
This road was laid out in 1858 for about half the distance 
across the town, and some ten years later was laid out for its 
entire distance by the County Commissioners and was built by 
the town. 

The half township was formerly included in a plantation 
organization with Bridgewater which joins it on the south, but 
when Bridgewater was incorporated as a town in 1858, it was 
organized as a plantation and known as Letter B, Range One. 

In 1860, when a postoffice was established, the name was 
changed to Alva, which name it retained until 1874, when it 
was incorporated as a town and named in honor of Hon. James 
G. Blaine. Mr. Dennis Getchell was the first postmaster, but 
he soon resigned his commission and was succeeded by Mr. 
Joel Valley, who held the office until 1872, when he resigned 
and H. 0. Perry was appointed. When Mr. Perry removed to 
Fort Fairfield, Mr. Valley was reappointed and held the office 
until 1885, when Mr. F. E. Brown was appointed and was soon 
after succeeded by Mr. A. O. Nutter. 

Upon a pleasant eminence a short distance west of the 
Corner is the village schoolhouse, a handsome two-story building 
surmounted by a bell tower. The schools in this building are 
graded and there is also one term of free high school each 
year. The schools are under the supervision of Mrs. Sophia 
M. Tapley, a lady of much ability and herself a practical school 
teacher. 

On the Houlton road there are fine farms with good sub- 
stantial buildings throughout its whole length through the town. 
Here are seen large, smooth fields, clear of stumps and stones 
and in fine cultivation. In every portion of the town we find 
good farms, though of course in the newer sections the stumps 
are not yet all out. The soil, however, is of the very best and 
in a very few years these newer farms will show broad, smooth 
meadows and the scythe and cradle will give place to the mow- 
ing machine and reaper. Blaine will class with the best of the 
farming towns in Northern Aroostook and is one of which the 
illustrious statesman for whom it is named has no reason to be 
ashamed. 



224 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

NEW SWEDEN 



The question of making some attempt to attract Scan- 
dinavian immigration to the State of Maine was discussed in 
this State as early as 1861, and in that year His Excellency, 
Gov. Israel Washburn, Jr., at the suggestion of Hon. Geo. F. 
Talbot, called attention to the matter in his inaugural address 
and recommended that some steps be taken by the Legislature 
to locate Swedish colonists upon the unsettled lands of Aroos- 
took County. The work of raising, equipping and forwarding 
soldiers to the Union Army occupied the attention of the State 
for the three or four years following to the exclusion of almost 
everything else, and no measures were formulated to bring 
about the result contemplated in Gov. Washburn's message. In 
1869, the Legislature resumed the consideration of the subject 
and more definite action was taken. As a result of this action, 
Hon. W. W. Thomas, Jr., was appointed a commissioner of im- 
migration, with instructions to proceed to Sweden, collect a col- 
ony, accompany the colonists to Maine and settle them upon 
a township in Aroostook County set apart for that purpose. 
Mr. Thomas was the one man in the State of Maine peculiarly 
fitted for this work, he having served as United States Consul 
at Gothenburg, and during his residence in Sweden having ac- 
quired the language and made himself intimately acquainted 
with the manners and customs of the people. 

The details of the enterprise were largely left to the dis- 
cretion of the commissioner, and the faithful and successful 
manner in which he executed the work proves the appointment 
to have been a most wise and fortunate one both for the colon- 
ists and for the State. 

The tract set apart for the settlement of the Swedish immi- 
grants was Township 15, Range 3, and the State engaged to give 
to each head of a family a lot of one hundred acres, to fell five 
acres of trees and build a comfortable log house upon each lot. 

Mr. Thomas sailed for Sweden in the spring of 1870 and 
upon his arrival proceeded at once to recruit his colony. He 
exercised great care in the selection of emigrants, accepting 
only such as he was satisfied were honest, industrious men, 
and of this class only those who were possessed of sufficient 
means to pay the expense of passage for themselves and fam- 
ilies. No contract or written agreement of any kind was made 
with the colonists, all they had to depend on being the simple 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 225 

word of the commissioner, supported by the authority he had 
received from the Legislature of his State. As Mr. Thomas 
has himself expressed it, they left their homes "without the 
scratch of a pen by way of contract or obligation, but with 
simple faith in the honor and hospitality of the State of Maine." 
All arrangements having been completed, the little colony, 
accompanied by Commissioner Thomas, sailed from Sweden on 
the 25th of June, 1870. The company consisted of fifty-one men, 
wom.en and children who thus consented to leave their native 
land and journey across the ocean to find new homes in what 
was to them the unknown wilderness of Northern Maine. Their 
faith and trust in Mr. Thomas was complete and the faithful 
manner in which he redeemed every promise made to them is 
shown by the respect .and affectionate regard expressed toward 
him by every citizen of New Sweden today. 

On the 23rd of July, 1870, the colony arrived at their new 
selves to their new and strange surroundings. Strangers in a 
selves to their new and Strang surroundings. Strangers in a 
strange land, wholly unacquainted with the manners and cus- 
toms of our people and nearly all of them unable to speak or 
understand a word of the language, unaccustomed to the work 
of clearing up the forest and contending with the hardships of 
pioneer life, it may be surmised that the first settlement of 
these "children in the woods" was attended with many misgiv- 
ings and frequent heart yearnings for the old home over the 
sea. With cheerful courage and a determination to overcome 
every obstacle they went manfully to work and in every direc- 
tion the the forest resounded with their sturdy blows. 

Mr. Thomas remained with them and not only superintend- 
ed the vv^ork of this first summer, but pulled off his coat and 
worked with them, encouraging them by word and example to 
clear up their lots and prepare the land for a crop. His task 
v/as^ a hard one from the first, and there were not lacking busy- 
bodies in our own State who by their continual interference and 
captious criticisms rendered his position still more uncomfort- 
able.^ The many incidents of this first summer, some of them 
amusing and some otherwise, including a hurried trip which the 
Commissioner was obliged to make to Augusta to quiet appre- 
hensions raised in that quarter by foolish meddlers, are among 
the events of the unwritten history of the colony. 

Having planted the colony in the wilderness it was neces- 
sary that they should be supplied with provisions and with im- 
plements until a crop could be harvested, and Mr. Thomas 



226 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

adopted the plan of selling them the required supplies to be paid 
for in work upon the roads. The amount of State aid thus fur- 
nished was about $25,000, nearly all of which was paid for 
within three years from the time of the arrival of the colony. 

Upon an eminence in the southern part of the town a large 
and substantial two-story building was erected by the State, 
the upper story to be used as a place for religious meetings 
and public gatherings of the colonists, and the lower story serv- 
ing as a store, where all needed supplies were kept for sale. 
This building was called the Capitol, and has played quite an 
important part in the history of the colony. 

During the next year and the years immediately following, 
large accessions were made to the colony, and every available 
lot in New Sweden being taken, lots were surveyed in the nor- 
thern portions of the adjoining tov^^ns of Woodland and Perham 
and upon these many Swedish settlers were located. It soon 
became apparent that these colonists were an honest, industrious 
people, and their steady application and frugal economy gave 
promise of assured success. The visitor to New Sweden fifteen 
years ago saw much to remind him that he was in the midst 
of a people whose language, manners and customs were those 
of a foreign land. The arrangement of their houses and their 
mode of living, their manner of doing farm work, more espe- 
cially of harvesting their grain; the single ox harnessed to the 
rude cart, the big, wooden shoes in common use; these and many 
other things betokened that the newcomers had not yet "caught 
on" to the ways and methods of the people among whom they 
had made their homes. All this, however, has now almost en- 
tirely passed av/ay and anyone riding through New Sweden 
today would hardly know but that the dwellers upon these 
beautiful farms, and in these neat and comfortable residences 
were "to the manner born," so completely have they adopted 
the ways and appliances of their Yankee neighbors. Occasion- 
ally, even now, may be seen a pair of oxen with the light Swed- 
ish yoke and harness, attached to a cart, or even at times to a 
mowing machine, but for the most part these farmers have good 
horses and are well supplied with all the various kinds of farm 
machinery in use among their neighbors upon the older' settled 
towns. 

New Sweden is bounded on the east by Connor Plantation 
and also partly by Caribou, on the south by Woodland, and on 
the north and west by the wilderness townships of 16 R. 3, and 
15 R. 4, respectively. These latter townships are owned by pro- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 227 

prietors, but a number of Swedish settlers are already located 
upon those portions of each of them adjoining New Sweden. 

A short distance from the Capitol in New Sweden is the 
Lutheran Church. Farther to the west is the church building of 
the Baptist Society, while on the higher ground east of the Cap- 
itol is the Advent meeting house. In the rear of the Capitol is 
the little cemetery where lie the remains of those of the colony 
who have passed to their final rest. Directly opposite the Cap- 
itol and fronting on the Caribou road, is the handsome resi- 
dence of Mr. F. O. Laiidgrane, who came to New Sweden three 
years ago and bought the farm, upon which there was then very 
little improvement. Though much interested in his farming 
speculations, Mr. Landgrane is a skilled mechanic, having been 
for a number of years master mechanic of the city railroads of 
San Francisco. He is also the inventor of several street car ap- 
pliances, including a fare box, change gate, bell, safety brake, 
etc., which are in use in many of the cities of the United States, 
and from the manufacture and sale of whcih he derives a com- 
fortable income. He has a partner, and their manufactory is 
located at 1804 Mission Street, San Francisco. Mr. Landgrane 
irtends to make his home in New Sweden, but makes period- 
ical trips to San Francisco. 

Directly east of the Capitol is the farm of Mr. John G. 
Uppling, who was a man of means in the old country and came 
to New Sweden in 1871 and bought the lot next the Capitol of 
its original proprietor. Capt. N. P. Clase, one of the original 
colonists, was of much ass'stance in the early days of the 
settlement, as he was the only member of the colony who could 
speak English, and upon h'm Mr. Thomas relied very much 
during these first years. We remember attending a banquet 
at his house years ago upon the occasion of the visit of Gov. 
Perham and his Council to New Sweden. The place has changed 
wonderfully since then and the Captain begins to show the marks 
of advancing years. 

There are six good schools in the town, three of wh'ch were 
taught during the present summer by young ladies born in the 
town and graduates of the Caribou High School. Each school 
is doing good work under the supervision of Mr. A. F. Ulrich. 

New Sweden may be ranked as one of the prosperous 
towns of Northern Aroostook. Its citizens are industrious and 
frugal and have the faculty of saving and adding a little to 
their possessions each year. They are an honest and religiously 
inclined people, yet have a keen sense of humor and are gener- 



228 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

ally intelligent and well informed. They have for the most 
part adopted the manners and customs of their Yankee neigh- 
bors and all the men and children speak good English. There 
are very few of the original log houses left in the town, nearly 
all having been replaced by neat frame buildings. The im- 
provement made upon this wilderness town in twenty years is 
very creditable to the thrift and energy of these worthy people 
and the addition thereby made to the valuation of the State 
proves the wisdom and success of the enterprise. 

New Sweden was organized as a plantation in 1876 and in 
1880 had a population of 517 and a valuation of $22,041. In 
1890 the population had increased to 707 and the valuation to 
$107,832. 

The first birth in the New Sweden colony was a boy in the 
family of Mr. Nils Persson, on the 12th of August, 1970, the 
21st day from the arrival of the colonists. The babe was 
christened by the name of William Widgery Thomas Persson, 
in honor of the founder of the colony. A few v/eeks afterwards 
Mr. Thomas presented his young namesake with a silver cup, 
on which was engraved : 

WILLIAM WIDGERY THOMAS PERSSON 

The first child born in New Sweden, 

August 12, 1870. 

From 

W. W. THOMAS, JR. 

The first marriage was performed on Sunday, August 21st, 
1870, when Mr. Jons Persson v/as united in marriage to Miss 
Hannah Persdotter, by W. W. Thomas, Jr., Esq. The ceremony 
was in the Swedish language, but after the American manner. 

The first funeral was on the next day (Sunday) after the 
arrival of the colonists. A child of Mr. Nickolaus P. Clase, 
only a few weeks old, died just above Woodstock on the way 
up the St. John River. The remains were brought to New 
Sweden and there buried. The funeral services were conducted 
by Rev. Mr. Withee, a Methodist clergyman of Caribou. 

The following are the names of the heads of families who 
were settled upon lots in New Sweden and Woodland in 1870, 
with the number of their lots : 

New Sweden 

Name Number of Lot 

Wilhelm Hard 75 

Per J. Jacobson 96 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 229 

Eric Ericsson 96^/^ 

Nils P. Jansson 97 

John Borgesson 99 

Carl Voss IIIV2 

Per 0. Julen 113 

Gottlieb T. Pilts 114 

Oscar G. W. Lindberg 114V3 

Nils Ohlson 115 

Jons Persson 116 

Svens Svensson 117 

Karl G. Harleman 118 

Anders Malmquist 121 

Jans L. Lundvall 12^'^ 

Truls Persson 133 

Nils Persson 134 

Nickolaus P. Clase 135 

Olof C. Morell 135^2 

John P. Johnson 136 

Anders Johansson 137 

Anders Svenson 138 

Olof Ohlson 138^2 

Laurentius Stenstrom 99^/2 

Per Persson 112 

Mans Mansson 131 

Anders F. Johansson 130 

Woodland 

Per Petersson A 

Solomon Johansson B 

Jonas Boden C 

Jonas Boden, Jr. D 

Frans R. W. Planck E 

Jacob Johansson F 

Anders Wesbergren 32 
At the close of the year 1870, the colony numbered 114 
Swedes, of whom 58 were men, 20 women and 36 children. A 
number of the original colonists afterward emigrated to other 
parts of the United States and their lots were taken by later 
arrivals. 



OXBOW 



In all this fair northland no fairer river sends its waters 
to the sea than the beautiful Aroostook, and no river of all the 



230 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

land flows through a grander or more beautiful country. Along 
the banks of its upper waters are not only immense tracts of 
valuable timber land, but through all its tortuous course from 
source to mouth it flows through a section as fertile and produc- 
tive as any in New England. Broad, smooth intervales, easy 
of culture and rich in all the elements of plant life are along 
its banks, and, swelling back from these, are grand ridges of 
fertile upland, which, when cleared of their forest growth, are 
easily converted into fair and productive farms, upon which 
are the homes of a peaceful, happy and prosperous people. 
Many strong flowing streams, draining immense timber sections, 
add their waters to its larger volume and upon all these are 
valuable water powers, capable of turning many busy wheels 
and adding to the industrial resources of this great county. 

In the valley of the lower Aroostook the forest has given 
place to the fertile farm, whole townships have been brought 
under cultivation, handsome villages have been built up, and 
from this section immense quantities of food products are sent 
out to feed the thousands of hungry tollers in other portions of 
the land. Fort Fairfield, Caribou, Presque Isle, Washburn, Ma- 
pleton and Castle Hill, all lying on the Lovv?er Aroostook, are 
towns whose exports are maLinly cultivated and manufactured 
products, while still farther up, Ashland and Masardis are well 
maintaining their claim to be classed as agricultural and manu- 
facturing towns. 

As we ascend the river still further we begin to find our- 
selves in the midst of the "forest primeval" and to leave be- 
hind us the larger settlements, and penetrate into Nature's love- 
liest retreats. Now standing upon some sightly em'nence, we 
look away towards the north and west, and as far as the eye can 
reach behold an unbroken forest, with its mountains and valleys, 
its rivers and streams, and in these mild October days, its daz- 
zling richness of color, ranging from the darkest green of the 
spruce and fir to the miost gorgeous crim.son of the maple, a sea 
of heaven-tinted beauty, an ocean of enchanting loveliness. 

Such was the beautiful picture spread before us as we 
stood upon the grand swell of cultivated land in the little set- 
tlement of Oxbow Plantation, the farthest inhabited tov/nship 
upon the upper waters of the Aroostook. 

Leaving Masardis, we ride southward on the old Aroos- 
took road some four miles or more, half the distance being in 
Township No. 9, Range 5, when we come to the mouth of the 
Oxbow road. Here we turn to the west and continue on for 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 231 

nearly five miles through the unbroken wilderness of No. 9, 
The soil in this township is quite stony and in that portion 
through which the road passes, hardly suitable for cultivation, 
though in other parts of the town there are some tracts of good 
farming land. Crossing Houlton Brook and Trout Brook fur- 
ther on, we come to the town line and all at once emerge from 
the wilderness, and find ourselves upon a handsome ridge of 
cultivated land, v/ith a beautilul prospect before us of some- 
thing over four miles of field and meadow lying along the Aroos- 
took River. Broad farms and fertile fields stretch away on 
either side of the road, the clearings terminating at the river on 
the north and at the grand old forest on the south. Standing 
upon this fertile slope and looking over the smooth fields and 
comfortable residences we can hardly realize that we are in the 
heart of a vast wilderness and that as far as cultivated improve- 
ment is concerned we are at the end of the road when we pass 
the last farm in sight. The forest is cleared avv^ay to such a 
breadth on either side the road, the fields and pastures are so 
well fenced, the houses and barns so comfortable and all the 
evidences of prosperous agriculture so apparent that it does not 
at first occur to one that alter leaving this settlement he could 
strike out into the edge of yonder woods and travel through 
unbroken forest for days v/ithout coming upon a human habita- 
tion until he reached the Canadian settlements upon the far-off 
St. Lawrence. 

Looking vvcstward along the road we can see at the foot of 
the cultivated slope the Umcolcus Stream whxh rises in Umcol- 
cus Lake down in the southwest corner of No. 8, Range 5, and 
flowing northwesterly across the corner of Penobscot County, 
enters Oxbov/ Plantation through its south line and flows north- 
ward into the Aroostook. A half m.ile to our right is the Aroos- 
took River v/inding among beautiful intervales and making here 
the "ox bov;" from which the tov/n takes its name. After cross- 
ing the Um.colcus the road ascends the slope on the other side 
through a cultivated section for some two m'.les, when it enters 
the forest and is lost in the mazes of the grand old woods. Look- 
ing beyond the little settlement we see forest to right of us, 
forest to left of us, and almost interminable forest in our front. 
Across the long stretch of gorgeous autumn blazonry, directly in 
our front rise the wooded peaks of the Mooseleuk mounta'ns, 
extending for some distance from north to south. Farther to the 
north are rugged heights of the Machias mountains, these being 
more distant and less clearly defined. Away to the southwest, 



232 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

high above all and grander than all, towers grand old Katahdin, 
seeming now like an old familiar friend, we have looked upon 
his rugged features so often of late, and from so many differ- 
ent standpoints. Lesser hills appear on every hand, all wood- 
covered and autumn-tinted, and everywhere forest, and forest 
glorified by Nature's matchless limning, and all illuminated by 
the splendor of the mild October sunlight. 

We are on the Upper Aroostook now, but still the head 
waters of its tributary streams are many miles away. Some 
ten miles above Oxbow the Sapomkeag, a small stream rising 
in Penobscot County, flows into the Aroostook from the south, 
and two miles above, the Mooseleuk enters from the north. This 
latter is a stream of considerable volume and large quantities 
of lumber are driven from it every spring. It heads away over 
in Piscataquis and flows in a southeasterly direction into the 
Aroostook. Some six or eight miles above the mouth of the 
Mooseleuk the Munsungun and Millinocket streams unite and 
form the Aroostook. The Munsungun is the northerly branch 
and flows from a lake of the same name in the northeastern 
part of Piscataquis County. The Millinocket flows out of Mil- 
linocket Lake also in Piscataquis, and the two unite in Penob- 
scot County a short distance from the northwest corner of that 
county. 

Though the Oxbow settlement is away to one side of the 
world's busy centres and is surrounded on all sides by forest, 
yet it is by no means a solitary or unfrequented locality, but 
is on the contrary in winter season one of the busiest points in 
the county. It has been for many years the headquarters and 
point of departure for the vast lumber business in this section 
and on that account has been a most important point. 

In the days of the great pine timber business many thou- 
sands of dollars were yearly brought to the town and fortunes 
were made and lost in operations of which it was the centre. 
The Aroostook War, which came so near embroiling two great 
nations in a sanguinary struggle, was the means of attracting 
attention to this fertile region and many who marched in with 
the posse to fight the British trespasser remained to battle with 
the wilderness and to make farms and homes In this new coun- 
try. It also demonstrated to others not of the martial force that 
the country was accessible and quite a tide of emigration fol- 
lowed. 

In September, 1839, Elias H. Hayden and Samuel Hayden 
came from Madison Centre, in Somerset County, to spy out the 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 23S 

land in the far-off Aroostook. They came up via Patten to Mas- 
ardis, where they took a boat and went down the river to 
Presque Isle, which at that time contained but little beside 
Fairbank's mill on the Presque Isle Stream. The road from 
the Aroostook River to Caribou had then been spotted out, and 
they followed the line through, looking for a location to suit 
them. At that time there was no openmg in the wilderness 
after leaving the Aroostook River at the point where the bridge 
now crosses in Presque Isle, until they arrived at the chopping 
of Ivory Hardison in Lyndon, and from there to Caribou the 
forest was unbroken. Not deciding to settle in this region, they 
returned to Presque Isle and poled their boat up the river to the 
Oxbow. Here they found Surveyor Henry W. Cunningham lot- 
ting the town, which was Township No. 9, Range 6, and here 
they concluded to make their future home. Selecting lots on 
the south side of the Aroostook River, near where the river 
makes its abrupt bend, they returned to their homes and in June, 
1840, came back and commenced felling trees upon their lots. 
A few small choppings had been made during the previous year, 
but all had been abandoned and the Haydens were the first 
settlers who came to stay. 

In 1842 Mr. Samuel Hayden moved his family to Oxbow, 
being the first family to come to the town. He remained until 
about 1860, clearing up a good farm and building comfortable 
buildings, and then removed to Minnesota. 

Mr. E. H. Hayden was unmarried when he came to the 
town. He built a log camp on his lot and went to work to clear 
up a farm. In 1842 he built a barn which was the first frame 
building in the town. The plank and boards for this barn he 
procured at Pollard's mill on the St. Croix, running them down 
that stream to Masardis and then poling them in a boat up the 
river to Oxbow. Mr. Hayden says that at one time he poled 
500 feet of green plank in a batteau from Masardis up to Oxbow 
without assistance. In 1843 Mr. Hayden married a daughter 
of Thomas Goss, and brought her to his log camp on his forest 
farm. After the boundary dispute was settled by the treaty of 
1842, the lumber business improved and a ready market was 
afforded for all the produce ra bea in tn.s vicinny. inaa oeco.n- 
ing more independent, Mr. Hayden, in the fall of 1843, built 
him a comfortable log house in which he lived until 1849, when 
he built a frame house and commenced keeping a hotel, in which 
business he continued in connection with farming, until some 
six years ago. 



234 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

The next settler to come to the town was Mr. John M. Wins- 
low, who came from Freedom, Waldo County, in March, 1842, 
and settled opposite Mr. Hayden's. He cleared up a farm and 
also engaged in the lumber business. He was the first clerk of 
the plantation after its organization. He remained until 1862, 
when he removed to Minnesota, where he afterwards died. 

Mr. Thomas Goss, Jr., son of the pioneer settler of Masardis, 
came with his family to Oxbow in April, 1842, and settled on a 
lot in the extreme west of the town. He remained but about 
three years, when he removed to Masardis and afterwards to 
the Fish River road. About 1870 he returned to Oxbow and 
settled in the east part of the town where he remained until his 
death in 1875. His widow is still living in the town v/ith her 
daughter, Mrs. I. L. Junkins. 

Aaron Scribner and family moved from Lincoln in 1843 
and settled on a lot on the Umcolcus Stream, where he made 
a farm and lived about twenty-five years, when he removed to 
Patten. 

William Eottin came from Madison in 1843, moving his 
fam.ily to the town the next year. He took up a lot on a beau- 
tiful ridge west of the Umcolcus, where he made a fine farm 
on which he still lives. 

In 1843 Ira Fish & Co. of Patten, built a sawmill on Umcol- 
cus Stream a short distance above the present bridge. In aid 
of this enterprise the company received from the State a grant 
of a block of land near the mill, a large part of which grant 
has since been made into productive farms. The mill at first 
contained only an up and down saw, but in 1845 a run of stones 
was put in. In 1852, Shepard Boody, of Old Town, bought the 
mill property and the land connected with it. Mr. Boody was 
largely engaged in the lumber business, having extensive opera- 
tions upon the headwaters of the Aroostook. Pine timber being 
at that time much higher in Bangor than in St. John, Mr. Boody 
for a number of years drove his lumber to the mouth of the 
Munsungun, where he took it from the water with teams and 
derricks and hauled it across to Sebois Lake on the Penobscot, 
and drove it to Bangor. He employed a large number of men, 
sometimes continuing his operations during the entire year. He 
moved his family to Oxbow, where he made the headquarters 
of his large lumber business and here also he engaged in farm- 
ing. He cleared up more than two hundred acres of land and 
raised large crops of hay and grain for his lumber operations. 
Mr.* Boody failed in 1864, and removed from Oxbow, living at 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 235 

various places in Aroostook County, devoting much of his time 
during his later years to preaching the gospel according to the 
Methodist faith. He died at Moro, on the Patten road, some- 
thing over a year ago. Those who knew him as a business man 
speak of him as an honest man, kind and generous to the poor, 
but unfortunate in his business operations. After Mr. Boody's 
failure the mill property passed into the hands of Mr. George 
Sawyer of Masardis, who operated it for a number of years, 
when it was sold to Mr. C. C. Libby, who came from -Newfield 
and married a daughter of Mr. Eben Trafton, of Masardis. 

Mr. Abram H. Currier came from Maysville in 1854 and 
for a number of years had charge of the Boody farm. In 1862 
he bought the lot on the west side of the stream, where he now 
resides. 

Samuel Willard moved from Old Town in 1854 and settled 
a mile east of the stream on the farm now owned by Stephen 
Ellis. He lived there until 1862, when he moved to the Winslow 
farm where he resided for a time and then moved to Presque 
Isle. In 1879 the Winslow farm passed into the possession of 
Mr. Eben Trafton of Masardis, who made m.any improvements 
and raised large crops of hay and grain. Mr. Trafton never lived 
in the town and afterwards sold this farm to Mr. Julius J. Jun- 
kins who now lives upon it. 

James Anderson came from New Brunswick about 186U 
and bought the Sam.uel Hayden farm, where he has lived ever 
since. Robert Purvis came from Nev/ Brunswick about 1854. 
He married a daughter of Mr. Samuel Hayden and in 1858 set- 
tled on the lot where I. L. Junkins nov/ lives in the east part of 
the town. John McLean came from Nova Scotia in 1861 and 
bought the William Day farm a short distance west of the 
stream. Mr. McLean was killed in the woods by a falling tree, 
and his widow afterwards married James Smith, who carried on 
the farm until his death a few years since. Mrs. Smith is now 
living with Mrs. Joseph Pollard at Masardis. Thomas Fleming 
came from Nova Scotia in 1854. He afterwards married a 
daughter of William Bottin and settled on the lot east of Mr. 
Bottin's, where he now resides. 

The townsh'p was first organized in 1848 and as Oxbow- 
Plantation in 1870. There are two schools in the town and the 
people are intelligent and prsoperous. 



236 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

GLENWOOD 



After passing through Haynesville we come to the Planta- 
tion of Glenwood, the southeast corner of which is crossed by 
this road. 

The first settler upon this township was Mr. Seth Spaulding, 
who came from Dover and in 1833 settled on the lot on which 
Mr. Charles H. Jenkins now lives at the mouth of the road 
which now leads to the mill on Wytopitlock Stream. Mr. 
Spaulding previously made a chopping on the lot at Happy Cor- 
ner in Reed Plantation, but did not remain upon the lot. He 
cleared the farm in Glenwood and lived on it until his death in 
1844. At the time of Mr. Spaulding's settlement his home was 
in the midst of a dense forest, his nearest neighbors being 
Messrs. Hall and Leighton, who had just completed the hotel 
in Haynesville on the hill two miles below the Forks. After 
Mr. Spaulding's death Mr. Samuel Tobin, who came from 
Blanchard in 1845, bought the possession. Mr. Tobin lived on 
the place a number of ^ years and then moved to Lee, where he 
died. The farm then passed through a number of hands and 
about 1860 was purchased by Mr. N. Twombly, who lived on it 
until his death some ten years ago. His son, Mr. Horace Twom- 
bly, now owns the farm. 

Mr. Jonathan L. Plummer came from the town of Wales in 
1835 and built a log house opposite Mr. Spaulding's and took 
up a lot a mile west of the Military road. Here he cleared a 
farm and built a frame house and barn and in 1844 moved with 
his family to the lot. He lived upon this farm some six years 
and then removed to Levant in order to secure for his children 
the privileges of an education which were denied them in their 
wilderness home. 

Mr. Asa Straw came from Newfield about 1836 and settled 
on a lot west of Mr. Spaulding's, where he made a clearing and 
built a log house in which he lived a few years and then moved 
to the Clifford settlement in Reed Plantation. He lived there 
a number of years and then moved to Lincoln Centre. 

Mr. Joseph Lane settled on the shore of Wytopitlock Lake 
in 1837. He cleared a farm and lived upon it until his death 
about a year ago. Mr. Lane was unmarried and devoted much 
of his time to hunting. Mr. Gardner Lane, an adopted son of 
Mr. Seth Spaulding, cleared a small farm adjoining Mr. Jonathan 
Plummer's. He afterwards removed to Arkansas, where he now 
resides. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 237 

At the time of the first settlement a, large amount of lum- 
bering was carried on in the vicinity and the early settlers 
raised a little hay to sell to the lumbermen, which was about 
the extent of their farming operations. Hunting was the main 
dependence for supplying the meat barrel and working in the 
woods in winter was the principal source from vv^hich money 
was obtained. 

In 1865 Mr. Lafayette Tuck and Mr. Peter Moulton built a 
mill on the Wytopitlock Stream in the southwest corner of the 
town, about two miles and a half west of the Military road. 
Mr. Elisha Gilpatrick of Danforth afterwards bought this mill. 
It contains a rotary, two shingle machines, a clapboard machine 
and lath machine. 

Mr. Robert Jenkins, who lives on the Military road a short 
distance below the mouth of the mill road, came from Wales 
to Molunkus in 1836 and worked at his trade of shoemaking a 
number of years. In 1861 he moved to Perham and from there 
enlisted in the 16th Maine Regiment. He was taken prisoner 
near Centreville, but was paroled and afterwards discharged. 
He then enlisted in the 31st Maine Regiment and served until 
the close of the war. In 1865 he came to Glenwood and settled 
on the lot formerly occupied by James Oliver, where he now 
lives. His son, Mr. Charles H. Jenkins, in 1879 built a house 
and store at the mouth of the mill road, where he is now engaged 
in trade and also keeps the postoffice. 

Glenwood lies directly west of Haynesville and north of 
Reed Plantation. On the north and west it is bounded by un- 
settled townships. In the western part of the township is Wy- 
topitlock Lake, a beautiful little sheet of water some two miles 
long and something more than half a mile in width. From this 
lake Wytopitlock Stream flows in a southerly course and emp- 
ties into the Mattawamkeag River in the southern part of Reed 
Plantation. The greater part of the town Is still covered with 
forest and as a whole the town is not well adapted to farming, 
though there are some tracts of very good land. The population 
of Glenwood in 1890 was 183. 



BANCROFT 



Directly west of the town of Weston and lying along the 
Washington County line is the good town of Bancroft, named 
in honor of the great historian whose brother was at one time 
the proprietor of the town. 



238 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

The township is somewhat irregular in form, having no two 
sides parallel, Its northeast corner projecting away beyond the 
general northern line of the town almost as far as the north line 
of Weston. Like many of the towns in Aroostook County, it 
was originally considered a timber town and many of the first 
settlers were attracted thither by the opportunities for engaging 
in the lumber business. A considerable portion of the town has 
been cleared of its forest growth and converted into fertile 
farms, but the lumber industry still furnishes employment for 
many of its citizens and there are few farmers who are not to 
some extent engaged in this business. 

The first settler upon the township was Mr. Charles Gel- 
lerson, who came from the town of Brighton, in Somerset Coun- 
ty, and settled in the extreme northeastern portion of the town, 
near the Weston line and a short distance south of where the 
ferry now crosses the Mattawamkeag River. Mr. Gellerson had 
a large family of sons, some of whom settled and made farms 
in the adjoining town of Weston, the others making their set- 
tlement in Bancroft. Upon coming to the town Mr. Gellerson 
purchased a block of 300 acres of good land lying along the 
Mattawamkeag River. This tract he afterwards divided into 
smaller farms, reserving 100 acres for his own homestead. Here 
he cleared a good farm and for a number of years after coming 
to Bancroft was engaged in lumbering. He lived upon the farm 
until his deith in 1854. 

Mr. James Dunn then had the farm for three years, when 
it was purchased by Mr. Shubael Kelley and his son Lorenzo 
Kelley, who owned and occupied it until 1867. Mr. William 
Gellerson, Jr., then bought the farm and after living on it some 
six years exchanged farms with Mr. Charles Case, who still 
lives on the old Gellerson homestead, where the first clearing 
v/as made in the town. 

Mr. Joslah Gellerson, a son of Charles Gellerson, came with 
his father to Bancroft and took 100 acres of the block pur- 
chased by him. He was largely engaged in lumbering and 
after living in Bancroft fourteen years moved to the adjoining 
town of Haynesvllle. Mr. Atwell Gellerson, another son, set- 
tled on the north hundred acres of his father's block. He 
cleared a farm and was engaged in farming and lumbering un- 
til his death in 1862. Mr. Samuell Gellerson then bought the 
farm and has lived upon it ever since. 

Mr. Shubael Kelley came from Brighton in 1833. With 
him came his two sons, Albert and Lorenzo, and together they 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 239 

settled on a lot adjoining Mr. Charles Gellerson's on the east. 
Here they cleared a farm upon which they lived together 
until 1857. Mr. Shubael Kelley and his son Lorenzo then 
bought the Charles Gellerson farm, upon which they built a 
new house, in which Shubael Kelley resided, Lorenzo living in 
the original farmhouse. They carried on the farm together. 
Mr. Lorenzo Kelley was also engaged in the business of lum- 
bering. Shubael Kelley died in 1865, and his son Lorenzo in 
1867. Mr. Albert Kelley remained upon the old homestead 
after the removal of his father and brother to the Gellerson farm, 
and was for many years one of the principal citizens of the 
town. He was for years largely engaged in lumbering, which 
he finally abandoned, and for a time was employed in the in- 
surance business. He died at his home in Bancroft in 1881. He 
was a man of kindly disposition, of a most cheerful and com- 
panionable temperament and had many friends throughout 
Aroostook County. His son, Mr. George Kelley, now has the 
homestead farm and is largely engaged in lumbering. 

Mr. Joseph Rollins came from Brighton in 1833 and settled 
on the lot next south of the Kelley lot. Here he cleared a good 
farm upon which he lived until his death in 1840. Mr. Albert 
Kelley, Jr., now lives on this farm. 

Mr. Joseph E. Shorey was for a number of years engaged 
in lumbering in Weston and Bancroft before making any per- 
manent settlement. He came from Kennebec County in 1835 
and settled in Bancroft on a lot a short distance south of Mr. 
Joseph Rollins. Here he made a farm and was engaged in lum- 
bering for many years. Mr, Shorey was a prominent man in 
the town and was a man of much ability. He was a trial justice 
for many years and was well known throughout southern Aroos- 
took. He died in Bancroft some ten years ago and his farm is 
now owned by Mr. Albert Sellers. 

Mr. Daniel Bean came from Cumberland County in 1834 
and settled near the mouth of Baskahegan Stream. Here he 
built a mill containing an up and down saw and also a grist 
mill. Mr. Bean carried on quite an extensive business in lum- 
bering and farming until about 1850, when he sold the property 
to Mr. John Pomroy and removed to Haynesville, where he died. 
Mr. Pomroy carried on the farm and mills until 1862, when he 
recruited a company which was mustered into the 11th Maine 
Regiment as Company I, Mr. Pomroy receiving a captain's 
commission. At the expiration of his military service Capt. 
Pomroy returned to Bancroft and for a number of years was 



240 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

extensively engaged in lumbering and trading. He afterwards 
removed to Minnesota, where he now resides. He is remem- 
bered in Bancroft as a man of much energy and business ability 
and as a leading man in that vicinity for many years. 

Mr. Simeon Irish came to Bancroft about 1834 and settled 
on the west side of the Mattav/amkeag River, a mile below the 
mouth of the Baskahegan Stream. Mr. Irish cleared a large 
farm and was quite extensively engaged in farming and lum- 
bering until his death, some thirty years ago. His son, James 
Irish, now owns the farm. 

Mr. Jeremiah Thompson came from Kennebec County in 
1837 and settled on the lot next south of Joseph Shorey. He 
m.ade a clearing and lived on the place some ten years, when 
he moved to Glenwood Plantation, where he afterwards died. 
Mr. Andrew Collins then bought the farm and lived upon it 
until his death some twenty-three years ago. Mr. William Quim- 
by then bought the farm and still resides upon it. 

Mr. Leonard Smith came from Sidney about 1838 and set- 
tled on the lot south of Mr. Joseph Rollins. Here he cleared a 
farm and after living on it a few years removed from the town. 
This farm then passed through a number of hands and was then 
purchased by Mr. James Burns, who came from Nev/ Bruns- 
wick. Mr. Burns lived upon the farm until his death some fif- 
teen years ago and h's son, Mr. Simeon Burns, now occupies it. 

Mr. Jonathan Quimby came from Kennebec County about 
1840 and settled on the lot near where the Kelley road now in- 
tersects the Baskahegan road. Mr. Quimby cleared this farm 
and lived upon It until his death some fifteen years ago. Mr. 
John Warman now lives upon the farm. 

Mr. Robert Hinch, who was for years one of the prominent 
business men of Bancroft, came to the town in 1840 and settled 
on the east side of the Mattawamkeag River, a short d'stance 
above the mouth of Baskahegan Stream. Mr. Hinch cleared a 
large farm and was for many years extensively engaged in 
farming and lumbering. He was for some time in company with 
Mr. John Pomroy in the lumber business and this firm carried 
on large operations for a number of years. Mr. Hinch died 
some five years ago. He was a worthy man, of much business 
ability and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. His son, 
John W. Hinch, now owns the homestead, but resides in Dan- 
forth. 

Mr. John W. C. Moore came from Kennebec County about 
1843 and settled on a lot a short distance east of Mr. Robert 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 241 

Hinch. Mr. Moore cleared a large farm and was for many years 
a prominent business man and a leading citizen of his town. He 
carried on large farming and lumbering operations and took an 
active part in town affairs. Mr. Moore also represented his 
district in the State Legislature. Some ten years ago he sold 
his farm to Mr. Edwin Smart and moved to Hodgdon, where he 
died a few years since. He was a man of sterling character, 
strict honesty and business integrity and had many friends. 

Mr. Daniel Moore came from Kennebec County about 1850 
and settled on the lot next east of Robert Hinch. Here he 
cleared a farm and was engaged in farming and lumbering until 
about 1882, when he sold the farm to Mr. Stewart Lee and moved 
to Linneus, where he died some three years ago. 

Mr. John W. Smart came from Washington County about 
1850 and settled on Trout Brook Ridge, near the Weston line. 
He made a good farm and lived on it until his death some fifteen 
years ago. Mr. Smart was also engaged in lumbering and was 
chairman of the board of assessors for many years. His son, 
Edv/in Smart, now lives on the farm. 

Mr. James T. Houghton came to Bancroft about 1852 and 
cleared a farm on Trout Brook ridge north of Mr. John W. 
Smart's, where he lived until his death some seven years ago. 
Mr. Freeman Brown now has this farm. 

Mr. Samuel E. Gellerson came to Weston when a small boy 
with his father, Rev. George W. Gellerson, In 1851 he bought 
the Atwell Gellerson farm in Bancroft and has lived on it ever 
since. Mr. Gellerson has been an active business man for many 
years, having been engaged in lumbering, farming and cattle 
buying. Though but a lad when he first came to the settlement, 
yet his memory extends back to the time when the first opening 
was made in the Gellerson settlement, which is the general name 
given to this portion of the town and the adjoining portion of 
the town of Weston. He has seen the forest give way before 
the pioneer's axe, and where once the Mattawamkeag flowed 
undisturbed through an unbroken wilderness, now fertile fields- 
and verdant meadows slope down to its shores. The humble 
log cabins of the first settlers have been replaced by neat and 
handsome residences and capacious barns now hold in their am- 
ple mows the products of the farmers' toil. Mr. Gellerson can 
well remember when there were no roads in the town except 
those used in the winter by the lumbermen and when the early 
pioneer went to his neighbor's by a path through the greenwood. 
Now there are good turnpikes and in the settled portion of the 



242 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

town good farms on all the roads. 

Bancroft is bounded on the north by Haynesville, on the 
east by Weston, west by Reed Plantation and extends on the 
south to the Washington County line. The Mattawamkeag 
River flows in a tortuous course, but in a general southwesterly 
direction through the town and along the river banks are some 
very fine stretches of intervale land. The Baskahegan Stream 
enters the town from Weston, near its southeastern corner and 
flowing in a northwesterly direction empties into the Mattawam- 
keag about midway of its course through the town. Battle Brook, 
a stream of considerable volume, empties into the Mattawamkeag 
from the northwest and there are several other brooks of more 
or less volume in different portions of the town. 

While the towns in northern Aroostook are watered by the 
St. John River and its tributaries and the headquarters of the 
lumber business of that section has been in St. John and Freder- 
icton, the towns in southern and western Aroostook are drained 
by streams that flow into the Penobscot and thus the business 
of those portions of the county has been largely centered at 
Bangor. Bancroft, as far as its lumber interests are concerned, 
is a Penobscot town and its early settlers, most of whom were 
more or less engaged in lumber operations, were well acquainted 
in Bangor, but had no business connection to speak of with the 
Province of New Brunswick. 

The Maine Central railroad crosses the southern part of the 
town and the station is on the west side of the Mattawamkeag 
River near the west line of the town. From the covered bridge a 
road runs southward along the west side of the Mattawamkeag 
River to Bancroft Station. The exports from Bancroft are prin- 
cipally hemlock bark, sleepers, poles, posts, ship timber and 
hardwood logs. 

The southern portion of the town of Bancroft, through which 
the railroad runs, is principally timbered land and there are no 
farms in this portion of the town. The cultivated part is the 
northeast quarter, being that portion north of the Baskahegan 
"road and east of the Mattawamkeag River. In this section the 
land as a general thing is very good and well adapted to farm- 
ing purposes. 

Bancroft was first organized as a plantation in 1840, and was 
incorporated as a town in 1889. It has a good class of citizens 
and may be regarded as a prosperous Aroostook town. The 
population of the town in 1890 was 264 and its valuation was 
$72,688. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 243 

EASTON 



The beautiful St. John River flows for many miles nearly 
parallel with the eastern boundary of the County of Aroostook 
and but a few miles distant. There is no more beautiful river 
in all America, and though the settlement of the disputed bound- 
ary question has long been acquiesced in, yet it would seem that 
the natural limit of Aroostook on the east should be this same 
magnificent river, and that the many fine streams that trace 
their winding course through this fertile county should not be 
obliged to discharge their waters in a foreign land. It may, 
however, be only a question of time when this grand water way 
shall be from its source to its mouth wholly within the jurlsdlc- 
dictlon of Uncle Sam, and when the eagle that now circles around 
Seven Islands can trace the course of the river away to the Bay 
of Fundy and be hailed through all his flight as the chosen em- 
blem of one grand nationality. The tier of townships lying 
along the boundary line comprises many fine agricultural towns, 
but none more excellent than the fertile town of Easton. No- 
where in Aroostook do the maples tower to so great a height, or 
make a more thrifty growth than in this town. Though lying 
upon the border it was unsettled at the time of the boundary 
dispute and its most ancient archives contain no annals of the 
famed Aroostook War. 

Easton was originally a Massachusetts township, but was 
about 1854, in common with all the other towns owned by the 
mother State, purchased by the State of Maine. In 1855 and 
1856 it was lotted by Noah Barker into 160 acre lots and was 
opened by the State for settlement. Previous to that time, 
however, a few settlers had commenced clearings upon the town 
and it may be that In earlier times some of our New Brunswick 
neighbors had wandered over the boundary and invaded the for- 
est. 

The earliest settler, however, of whom we could obtain any 
authentic account was Mr. Henry Wilson, Mr. Wilson came 
first to Presque Isle and taught school in a log house on what Is 
now the Hugh Jamison farm about the year 1847. He taught 
a number of years in the town and in 1851 went away into the 
wilderness and commenced a clearing near what Is now Easton 
Centre. There was at that time a logging road from Presque 
Isle across the' present town of Easton to the St. John River. 
This road was of course passable for teams only in the winter 
season. A number of the young men in Presque Isle went over 



244 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

with Mr. Wilson to the spot he had selected for his forest home 
and helped him build a log house. To this new house he brought 
his wife and lived here a number of years before any other set- 
tler came -to the. neighborhood. About the time that the town was 
lotted he sold his improvements which were on a part of three 
lots, to W. H. Rackliffe, Josiah Foster and Theophilas Smith, 
and moved to the adjoining town of Mars Hill. Mr. Wilson is 
now living in Houlton and his son, Vinal B. Wilson, Esq., is a 
prominent member of the Aroostook bar with the promise of a 
brilliant future. 

In 1854, Mr. Albert Whitcomb commenced a clearing about 
a mile south of what is now Easton Centre. Mr. Whitcomb at 
that time lived with his father, Mr. Emmons Whitcomb, in 
Presque Isle, on the farm now owned and occupied by Mr. H. H. 
Cook. In 1856, he removed to his new farm, having at that 
time twenty acres cleared and a log house and frame barn built. 
The road from Fort Fairfield to Blaine had then been run out 
but was at that time merely a spotted line through the forest, 
not even having been opened for winter travel. The early set- 
tlers paid for their land in grubbing out and building this road 
which was not made passable for wagons until 1859. 

In 1854 also, Mr. William Kimball commenced a clearing 
north of Mr. Wilson's and was one of the most prominent of the 
early settlers of the town. In later years Mr. Kimball removed 
to Presque Isle, where he continued to reside until his death in 
February, 1890. In the same year also came Solomon Bolster, 
Dennis Hoyt, Emmons A. Whitcomb and A. A. Rackliffe. Mr. 
Hoyt was not, however, a resident of the town and soon after- 
wards sold his improvement to William D. Parsons. 

Mr. Jacob Dockendorff also commenced a clearing in 1854 
in the western part of the town on the bank of the stream near 
what is now the thriving village of Sprague's Mills. Mr. Dock- 
endorff did not become a resident of the town, however, until 
1857. 

In the spring of 1856, Josiah Foster and George Foster set- 
tled rear the Centre. John L. Pierce took the lot adjoining Al- 
bert Wh'tcomb's and John C. Cummlngs settled near the Fort 
Fairfield line. 

In the fall of 1856 Ephraim Winship and Israel Lovell took 
up lots in the northwest corner of the town next to the Presque 
Isle line. 

The township was organized as a plantation July 26, 1856, 
and was named Fremont Plantation, in honor of Gen. John C. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 245 

Fremont, who was that year the standard bearer of the young 
Republican party of the nation. We find by examining the rec- 
ords that at the time of the organization in 1856 there were but 
nine legal voters in the plantation. These settlers who took part 
in the organization were all living along the line of the road 
from Fort Fairfield to Blaine, but soon after a settlement was 
commenced in the western part of the town. Between these 
two portions of the town is a low, marshy bog, which, though 
not of great width at any point, runs in a northerly direction for 
about four miles and is about all the waste land there is in the 
town. 

In May, 1857, Mr. Samuel Kneeland, who had married a 
daughter of William Kimball, came from Sweden, in Oxford 
County and settled in the west part of the town near the Presque 
Isle line. Mr. Kneeland first brought his family to Mr. Kim- 
ball's and from there he and his wife walked through the woods 
and across the bog to their new home, each carrying a child, 
and leading a third by the hand. 

Among the early settlers in this part of the town besides 
those already named were James E. Dudley and Samuel Barker, 
who came together from Waterford, Oxford County, in 1859, 
and settled on adjoining lots next to the Presque Isle line, pur- 
chasing improvements of Mr. W. H. Ryan, who is now a drug- 
gist at Presque Isle. Benjamin Farnham came from Castine the 
same year, and Joseph Johnson and James Moore had already 
settled in this part of the town. 

In 1858, a schoolhouse was built at the Centre and at a 
meeting held on June 7th of that year the town voted fourteen 
against license to four in favor and it has been a strong pro- 
hibition town ever since. In 1859 there were forty-two legal 
voters on the list and seventy-one scholars in the plantation. 
In 1860 the list contained sixty-three voters and in 1861 seventy 
six. In 1862 the records show that it was voted that the taxes 
should be paid in grain or shingles at the market price at Fort 
Fairfield, and that the collector should give each tax payer 
thirty days notice. Buckwheat and cedar shingles were at that 
time the legal currency in Aroostook and were about all the re- 
sources the settlers had for the payment of debts. 

The town was settled slowly and in 1860 contained but 
320 inhabitants. During the war many of the settlers went Into 
the army and not much growth was made until after the war 
was over. 

In 1860 Mr. D. Russell Marston built the mill now standing 



246 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

at the village of Sprague's Mills. This mill had an up and down 
saw, and later Mr. Marston put in a shingle machine which he 
bought of Mr. Isaac Hacker of Fort Fairfield and which is said 
to be the first shingle machine brought to Aroostook County. 
Mr. Marston continued to run the mill until 1870, when he sold 
it to Messrs J. K. & E. W. Sprague. The Spragues made ex- 
tensive repairs. They sold the mill in 1878 to W. H. Newcomb, 
who a year later sold to Johnson & Phair. It is now the property 
of Hon. T. H. Phair, who has put in a rotary. 

Of the other mills in this town we may as well speak in this 
connection. About 1859 Mr. Isaac Wortman built a mill on the 
River de Chute in the east part of the town. This mill con- 
tained only an up and down saw. It was burned in 1870 and 
was not rebuilt. In 1879 Mr. E. W. Sprague built a steam shin- 
gle mill in the western part of the town near what is known as 
the village of Sprague's Mills. This mill contained one shingle 
machine with balance wheel and often turned out as many as 
twenty-four thousand shingles in ten hours. After running five 
years the mill was burned and was not rebuilt. The engine was 
saved and was removed to Robinson's Mill in Blaine. 

About this time Mr. A. B. Walker built a grist mill some 
three fourths of a mile above the saw mill on the same stream. 
This stream is called the Presque Isle of the St. John to dis- 
tinguish it from the other stream of the same name which flows 
through the village of Presque Isle and empties into the Aroos- 
took. This grist mill contains three run of stones, and after op- 
erating it about four years Mr. Walker removed the wheat 
stones to Masardis, where he had built another grist mill and 
for a time the Easton mill was in possession of E. W. Sprague, 
who put in two shingle machines and introduced steam power. 
In 1887 Mr. Arno Fling built a steam shingle mill in the east 
part of the town. This mill is now owned by B. F. Jones of 
Blaine and has a rotary and one shingle machine. 

In 1877 Messrs. Johnson & Phair of Presque Isle built a 
large starch factory at Sprague's Mills. The factory had but 
one dry house when first built, but a second one was added a 
few years later. The building of this factory was an enter- 
prise which resulted in great benefit to the farmers of Easton 
and did more than anything else toward building up the thriv- 
ing village of Sprague's Mills. The farmers at once turned 
their attention to the raising of potatoes for the factory, each 
man at first contracting to plant a certain number of acres and 
to deliver the potatoes at the factroy for 25 cents per bushel. 



HISTORY OP AROOSTOOK 347 

The contracts were usually for five years and the business 
proved to be a profitable one. Soon, however, the demand for 
Aroostook potatoes for the outside market at good prices in- 
duced the farmers to plant many more acres than they had con- 
tracted for, selling the merchantable stock to shippers in years 
when the price was good, and having the starch factory to fall 
back on when the prices for shipping dropped, 

Easton has proved to be one of the greatest potato produc- 
ing towns in the County and vast quantities are hauled each 
year to the shipping stations of Presque Isle and Fort Fairfield. 

In the fall of 1884, in the midst of the starch making sea- 
son, the factory was consumed by fire. This subjected both the 
proprietors and farmers to great loss and inconvenience, but 
the factory was rebuilt during the following year and has done 
a large and prosperous business ever since. It is now owned by 
Hon. T. H. Phair and is one of the most profitable of all his 
factories. 

In 1883 Messrs. Kimball & DeLaite built a steam shingle 
mill on the Spear Brook near Easton Centre. This mill contained 
one shingle machine, but before it was fairly in operation the 
boiler burst, killing one man, Mr. Edward Lord, and severely 
scalding a number of others. A large number of school children 
were in the mill watching the working of the engine but a few 
minutes before the explosion, and had they remained the dis- 
aster must have been far more terrible. 

The first store in Easton was opened at the Centre in 1863 
by Mr. W. H. Rackliffe. Mr. Rackliffe continued in trade some 
three years, when he closed up this branch of his business, as 
he was extensively engaged in farming and in buying and selling 
cattle and sheep. In 1872 Mr. Charles W. Kimball built a store 
at Easton Centre, where he traded for a number of years, and 
was followed by Mr. C. F. Parsons, who leased the Kimball 
store and in 1882 built a new store on the opposite s'de of the 
street, to which he removed. Kimball and DeLaite then com- 
menced trade in the Kimball store but after the disaster at the 
steam mill they went out of business and sold the- store to Mr. 
Parsons. Mr. H. W. Knight afterwards succeeded Mr. Parsons 
in this store and was in turn followed by Samuel G. Wheeler, 
the present occupant and the only merchant at Easton Centre. 

The principal village in the town is at Sprague's Mills, in 
the western part of the town, near the Presque Isle line. The 
first store in this part of the town was built by Nathan Jewell 
in 1868. It was used for a store but a short time, when it was 



248 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

converted into a dwelling house and afterwards burned. 

In 1878 E, W. Sprague built a store near the mill. Mr. 
M. C. Smith, now a thriving merchant in the village of Presque 
Isle, commenced trade in this store and afterwards bought it. 
The store was burned in June, 1880, and was replaced by th^ 
large store now occupied by Mr. J. Sawyer. 

In 1882 Mr. M. L. DeWitt built a store at the Mills, which 
for a number of years was occupied by various parties and was 
afterwards destroyed by fire in the same year. 

E. W. Sprague built a store which he occupied as a lumber 
supply store and also as a post office, Mr. Sprague having then 
been postmaster at Sprague's Mills for four years. The next 
store was built by F. E. French in 1883, and was occupied by 
him as a dry goods and millinery store until 1885, when it was 
purchased by E. W. Sprague, who now occupies it as a variety 
store and post office. 

In 1885 Mr. Byron Wheeler built the large store with 
Grange Hall above. This store was first occupied by Mr. For- 
rester Burns, who was succeeded by Spear & Stanchfield, and 
they by F. L. Spear & Co., the present occupants. 

In 1886 Samuel Kneeland built a store with dwelling above. 
Mr. Kneeland has since died and his widow now carries on the 
dry goods and millinery business in this store. 

In 1886 the Odd Fellows built a fine two story building and 
finished off a handsome hall for the accommodation of the lodge 
in the second story. The lower story is now owned and occupied 
by the Methodist society as a house of worship and is very 
comfortably and conveniently arranged for that purpose. 

In 1886 the Free Baptist society erected a very fine church 
building at the Mills, v;hich is an ornament to the village. 

Although the first growth of the town seemed to indicate 
that the principal business would cluster around the Centre and 
that the village would there be located, the fine water power at 
Sprague's Mills and the erection of the starch factory deter- 
mined that as the mam center of industry, and a handsome and 
thriving village has there grown up in a few years. The place 
has an air of life and activity and the business men are men of 
energy and staunch business integrity. The buildings are neat 
and pleasantly located and everything points to a sure and solid 
growth. 

The schools in the town of Easton are well sustained and 
rank among the best. The town system was adopted some five 
years ago and the citizens take great interest in their schools. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 249 

There are ten schools in the town under the efficient supervision 
of W. J. Weymouth. Four terms of free high school are main- 
tained each year, two of which are held at Easton Centre and 
"two at Sprague's Mills. 

As a farming town Easton has few if any superiors in 
Aroostook. Though comparatively a new town, reclaimed from 
"the wilderness within the recollection of men who are still young 
and active, yet there are upon all the roads throughout the town 
large, smooth and well cultivated farms with extensive farm 
buildings and every evidence of comfort and prosperity. 

Easton was incorporated as a town on Feb. 24, 1864 and in 
1880 had a population of 835. The population in 1890 was 978 
and the valuation $208,765. 

In the fertility of its soil and its natural advantages as an 
agricultural town it is surpassed by few, if any, of the towns in 
the fertile valley of the Aroostook. 



MAPLETON 



Directly west of the town of Presque Isle lies the goodly 
town of Mapleton, formerly known as Township No. 12, Range 
3. The Aroostook River barely touches the northeast corner of 
the town, the corner post being upon an island in the river. 
Some two and a half miles west of this corner the river in bend- 
ing around a large island again touches the north line of the 
town. Mapleton has Washburn for a neighbor on the north, 
Castle Hill on the west and Chapman Plantation upon its 
southern, border. 

The first settlement made upon the town was upon the lots 
in the northeast corner bordering upon the Aroostook River. 
Previous to the time of the Aroostook War, people from New 
Brunswick had ascended the river and made settlements upon 
its banks at various points, and after the boundary dispute was 
settled by the Treaty of 1842 these settlers were given deeds of 
their lots in accordance with the recommendations of the Com- 
missioners sent here by the States of Maine and Massachusetts 
and these lots so deeded have since been known as treaty lots. 
"Very few of these lots were located in what is now the town of 
Mapleton, as that town has but a small extent of river frontage. 

We find by the report of the Commissioners that Lot No. 
14 was thus granted to Joshua Christie and Lot No. 16 to "Ed- 
ward Erskine, James Erskine and Abigail, wife of Winslow 
Churchill." These two lots, now included in the town of Maple- 



880 HISTORY OP AROOSTOOK 

ton, had a river irontage in what is now the town of Washburn* 
Lots No. 17 and 18 were granted to Peter Bull, together with 
"that part of Bull's Island which lies in No. 12," now Mapleton. 
How long these people had been settled on their lots we have 
not been able exactly to determine, but as the conditions of the 
grants required that the lots should have been "possessed and 
improved by them, or the persons under whom they claim, for 
more than six years before the date of the treaty aforesaid" 
they must have been settled there as early as 1836 and we think 
Peter Bull came there at a much earlier date. We find also that 
the southeast quarter of lot 102 and the southwest quarter of lot 
103, "to be set off by lines parallel to the lot lines" were granted 
under the treaty to Dennis Fairbanks, the pioneer settler of the 
town of Presque Isle. These two lots are situated in the south- 
east part of the town and the "quarters" designated front upon 
the Presque Isle Stream, a tributary of the Aroostook. Probably 
at the time these lots were granted to Fairbanks there was no 
actual settler upon them though there must have been some 
"improvement" upon them in order to acquire a deed. This 
tract is now, we think, owned by Mr. Veranes Chandler of 
Presque Isle. 

Thus we find that Mapleton as well as many other towns in 
this part of the County, owed its first settlement to the Aroos- 
took River, which these pioneer settlers ascended in the old 
days "before the war" and upon whose fertile banks and mag- 
nificent islands they made their humble homes. 

At that time the river was the only highway through this 
forest region and therefore these old time settlers made their 
first clearings and erected their log houses near its banks. Be- 
fore the clearing was made and a crop could be obtained, these 
pioneers were able to obtain the means of supporting their fam- 
ilies by felling the noble pines that grew near the river banks, 
making them into square timber and floating them down to 
Fredericton, where they found a ready market. 

These people were all from New Brunswick at the time of 
their settlement along the river, and considered themselves still 
citizens of that Province and claimed to be upon Provincial terr 
ritory. Not until the time of the boundary disputes which cul- 
minated in the Aroostook War, was the attention of the citizens 
of Maine called to this fertile region, or were its grand agricul- 
tural resources known to our people. 

Then the old "State Road" from Presque Isle to Ashland 
was cut through and in 1842, Shepard Packard came from the 



HISTORY OP AROOSTOOK 2Sl 

town of Foxcroft and settled on the line of that road some four 
miles west from what is now Presque Isle. Mr. Packard re- 
mained upon this lot and cleared up a fine farm, where he lived 
to see the wilderness about him cleared away and fine fields 
made all along the road to Presque Isle. He died at his home 
at a ripe old age some five or six years ago. His son, George 
W. Packard, lived with him, and was for years the active man- 
ager of the farm until his death, which occurred last spring. 
Ansel Packard, another son, lived upon the farm opposite his 
father's until some eight years ago, when he moved to Fort Fair- 
field, and he too, recently died. Thus no member of the family 
who made the first settlement upon this part of the town is now 
living. 

Members of the Bull family came up upon this road soon 
after Mr. Packard made his clearing, and Charles W. and Peter 
Bull are still living upon lots a short distance east of the Pack- 
ard famt. 

Many of the lots upon this part of the town were covered witk 
their original forest growth until after the war, since which 
time every lot has been taken and there is a continuous settle- 
ment across the town upon this road. 

In 1865 Mr. Thomas Munn took up the lot next east of Mr. 
Packard's, and has now forty acres cleared and is making a fine 
farm. 

Another road enters the town from Presque Isle and runs 
entirely across the town, parallel to and a mile and a half dis- 
tant from the south line of the town. 

In the fall of 1858, Mr. George L. Emerson came from the 
town of Stow ,in Oxford County, and took a lot in the southwest 
part of the town, a half mile south of the line of the road above 
named. He made a chopping that fall and in the spring brought 
his family to his new home, where he had built a log house. 
Mr. Emerson's experience was like that of many another Aroos- 
took pioneer. When he arrived with his family and settled in 
his forest home he had just fifty cents in his pocket. He cleared 
up two acres and put it into crop, and then leaving his little 
family, went to work in Presque Isle, and also upon the mill 
which was that year built near his home, to earn means to pro- 
vide food until his crop grew. 

The road in this part of the town was not then opened, and 
all supplies had to be brought up the old State Road and across 
a "portage" through the woods. The distance from Presque 
Isle by this route was about seventeen miles, while by the road 



252 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

now traveled it is but about six miles. In 1862, Mr. Emerson, 
who then had a clearing of ten acres on his lot, left his home and 
joined the Union Army, being enrolled in the 18th Maine Regi- 
ment, known as the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery. Many a brave 
and sturdy recruit for the Army of the Union went from the 
new settlements in the forests of Aroostook, and in many of 
the log houses on these little clearings in the wilderness the 
lonely wife and little family anxiously awaited the return of the 
loved one who was fighting the battles of his country on South- 
ern fields. Nobly, indeed, did Aroostook respond to the nation's 
call to arms, and today in every town in this new county may 
be found many veterans of the war. 

Mr. Emerson returned from service with broken health, but 
succeeded in making a fine productive farm and buildings com- 
fortable and commodious. Being unable to carry on a large farm, 
he has recently sold a fine tract of fifty acres, and is living 
quietly upon the remainder. 

In 1859 Freeman L. Ball and Reuben A. Huse came from 
Hallowell and commenced the erection of a mill at the point 
where the road now crosses the Presque Isle Stream in the 
southwest part of the town of Mapleton. This mill became the 
nucleus of what is now the pleasant and busy little village of 
Ball's Mills. -Messrs. Ball and Huse received from the State 
a grant of a mile square of land in aid of building the saw 
mill, which at first contained but an up and down saw for saw- 
ing long lumber. A year or two later they put in a shingle 
mill. At the time the mill was built there was no clearing any- 
where in the vicinity, and no road in that portion of the town. 

In 1859 also came Chas. M. Spooner, Benj. Chandler and 
Benj. Gray, who took lots east of the mill and made clearings, 
and Mr. Geo. L. Emerson moved his family to the new settle- 
ment. 

The same year Josiah McGlauflin, A. H. Thompson, B. J. 
Hughes, Garner Wilcox and some others settled on lots near 
the mill to the north and west. 

Mr. Ball soon after sold his interest in the mill to his part- 
ner, Mr. Huse, and commenced making the fine farm near the 
mill upon which his son, Mr. Albert Ball, now lives. In 1886 
Mr. Huse sold the mill to John P. Roberts and Franklin Ball, 
who carried it on until 1870, when they sold to Hon. David 
Dudley of' Presque Isle. Mr. Dudley made extensive repairs 
upon the mill and also built a store and entered into trade. He 
also devoted himself somewhat extensively to farming upon the 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 253 

land near the mill. In 1874 he sold the mill to Messrs Stewart 
and Morton, the present proprietors, who made extensive ad- 
ditions and put in a rotary saw and planer. The new firm had 
succeeded in establishing a good business when, in the summer 
of 1877, a fierce forest fire swept down the valley of the stream, 
consuming in a short time the mill and all buildings connected 
with it, the new starch factory just completed by Messrs. John- 
son & Phair, Mr. Albert Ball's barn and outbuildings, and at 
one time threatened to consume the entire village. The bridge 
across the stream near the mill was also burned, and it was only 
by the greatest exertion on the part of those present that the 
village was saved from total destruction. The events of this 
disastrous fire are still spoken of by the residents of the village 
as an experience never to be forgotten by those who passed 
through it. Messrs. Stewart & Morton were in no way discour- 
aged by their great loss, but at once set about the work of re- 
building the mill. This work they pushed with so much vigor 
and energy that by fall of the same year the new mill was com- 
pleted, machinery put in and in successful operation. 

The destruction by fire of the starch factory resulted in 
much inconvenience to the farmers of the vicinity, who had 
planted large fields of potatoes with the expectation of deliver- 
ing them at this factory in the fall. The potato crop proved 
good that year and, as many of the Mapleton farmers hauled 
their potatoes to the Maysville factory, also owned by Messrs. 
Johnson & Phair, this additional supply loaded that factory to 
its utmost capacity. Sometimes as many as eighty teams, load- 
ed with potatoes could be counted, waiting to unload at the 
Maysville factory. Messrs. Johnson & Phair rebuilt the factory 
at Mapleton in 1879 and in the summer of 1886 the main build- 
ing was struck by lightning and entirely consumed, the dry 
houses being saved. The factory was immediately rebuilt and 
was completed in time to receive the crop of potatoes in the 
fall of the same year. 

The village hotel is kept by M. L. Stewart, who came to 
Mapleton from New Vineyard, in Franklin County, in the year 
1864, and bought a lot of 160 acres on the Presque Isle road a 
short distance east of the mills. At that time there was but six 
acres cleared upon the farm and the buildings consisted of a 
log house and a small barn. Mr. Stewart at once set about 
the work of making a farm and in a few years the forest upon 
the front of his entire lot had disappeared and given place to 
fertile fields. In 1878 he built a large two-story house and at 



3&4 HISTORY OF AROOfiTOOK 

once opened it for a,=hotel. This house is one of the most 
pleasant and homelike hotels in the county, and here the traveler 
is always sure to find rest and refreshment and the kindest at- 
tention from the courteous landlord and his pleasant family. 

Col. S. C. F. Smith, the resident member of the firm of 
Dudley and Smith, is the principal merchant of the village. Col. 
Smith was from the town of Charlotte, in Washington County, 
and made a splendid war record as Captain of Co. H. 9th Maine 
Regiment. Immediately after the war he came to Aroostook 
and went into business in the pretty little village of Spragueville 
in South Presque Isle. He afterwards removed to Fort Fairfield, 
and in 1878 formed a co-partnership with Hon. David Dudley 
of Presque Isle for the purpose of carrying on a mercantile 
business at Ball's Mills. Mr. Dudley's extreme antipathy to 
tobacco was well known, and as he could not conscientiously 
countenance its sale or use, he refused to extend the partner- 
ship to this branch of the business, and the tobacco trade was 
carried on by Col. Smith alone, Mr. Dudley refusing to receive 
any share of the profits. Mr. Dudley was long an honored citi- 
zen of Presque Isle, and was a member of the Maine Senate 
from this county. He died at Presque Isle in the summer of 
1890. 

Col. Smith has served as Colonel of the Veteran Regiment 
of Aroostook G. A. R., and has also represented his district in 
the Legislature of Maine. He has a very handsome residence 
at Ball's Mills, and is one of the sterling business men of 
Aroostook. 

Nearly opposite Col. Smith's store is the fine building erect- 
ed in 1884 by Eureka Grange. The second story of the building 
is used as a Grange hall, with a dining hall above. The lower 
story has recently been sold to Mr. M. E. Ingraham, who has 
opened a grocery and provision store. Mr. Ingraham is a young 
man who was brought up upon a farm in the town and is well 
known and respected by all his townsmen. 

Mr. E. A. Smith came from the town of Charlotte and has 
a farm of forty acres on the high land east of the village and has 
a fine set of buildings. He has been collector of taxes for a 
number of years. Mr. James McGlauflin also came from the 
town of Charlotte in 1861 and took a farm about half a mile 
from the village, which he carried on for three years. He then 
moved his family to Presque Isle and went into the army. He 
returned to Mapleton in 1882 and has been postmaster at Ball's 
Mills ever since. He keeps a stock of light groceries and dry 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 2S6 

goods, but like Mr. Dudley, has conscientious scruples against 
selling tobacco. His store is on the west side of the stream 
Bear the bridge. 

Mr. Phineas Swan is the village blacksmith and has a shop 
opposite the postoffice, where all kinds of work in his line are 
executed to the satisfaction of his customers. 

About one-fourth of a mile west of the mill we come to the 
fine farm of Mr. A. S. Griffin, which lies next to the town line. 
Mr. Griffin also came from the town of Charlotte, which has 
furnished many good citizens to this part of the county. He 
has now nearly fifty acres cleared, and has recently built a very 
handsome two-story house and is making a valuable property. 
Mr. Griffin was a soldier in the 7th Maine Regiment. 

A little over a mile east of the village is the farm of Mr. 
Charles Higgins, a hale old gentleman of 78, who came to the 
town from Calais in 1870. Eleven years ago his house took fire 
in the night and the flames were well under way before the in- 
mates awoke to their danger. It was only by the greatest ex- 
ertion that the old man and his sons were able to save the lives 
of the women of the family, but they succeeded in rescuing all 
from the grasp of the flames. When the sun rose next morning 
it shone upon a heap of smouldering ruins, and when it set that 
night its last rays fell upon a new house ready to shelter the 
family, built entirely in one day. In the morning after the fire 
the trees of which the frame was made were growing in the 
woods. The neighbors turned out in large numbers. The trees 
were felled, the frame hewed and hauled to the building spot, 
the timbers were framed and raised, the boards and shingles 
hauled from the mill, the house enclosed and shingled, windows 
put in, floors laid and rooms partitioned off ready for the family, 
all in one day. Who will say that Aroostook is not a good 
county for a poor man to live in, or that Mapleton is not one of 
its good towns? Mr. Higgins's three sons, Orren J., Charles 
O. and Shepard I. Higgins, all live on good farms nearby and 
are making comfortable homes. 

In the east part of the town is a splendid ridge of land 
known as the Creasy Ridge, upon which are many fine farms. 
The peculiarity of the soil in this part of the town is that the 
ledge is red sandstone and is of much value for building pur- 
poses. In 1860 Mr. Benj. D. Creasy came from Mt. Vernon and 
settled upon this ridge. The same year came Mr. Francis Wins- 
low from Westbrook, and also Eben, Robert and James M. 
Grendell, and settled in the same vicinity. There was then no 



256 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

clearing in that part of the town, but it is now a very fine farm- 
ing section. Mr. Charles E. Creasy now lives upon the farm 
commenced by his father, and has a very handsome farm with 
a good stand of buildings. Mr. Winslow has also a fine farm 
on the opposite side of the road. He was engaged in hop rais- 
ing for a number of years and found it a profitable business for. 
a time. 

Mr. Alexander Ross came to Mapleton in the spring of 1864 
and bought a lot on the Creasy Ridge about two and one-half 
miles from Presque Isle village. When he bought the lot there 
were but ten acres cleared upon it and no direct road leading 
to Presque Isle. He now has a good road to the village and has 
one of the finest farms in this section. Mr. Ross is a good 
farmer as well as a good citizen. He has served on the Board 
of Trustees of the North Aroostook Agricultural Society and is 
one of the "old reliables" in Grange work. 

A short distance west of the mill a road runs in a northerly 
direction across to the old State Road through a very fine farm- 
ing section. Mr. S. H. Waldron, a veteran of the war, has a 
large farm upon this road with an attractive set of farm build- 
ings. There are numerous other good farms on this road and 
also on the other cross roads throughout the town. 

Mapleton was first organized as a plantation in 1869, and 
George L. Emerson, A. H. Thompson and Shepard Packard 
were chosen assessors, and Chas. M. Spooner, clerk. The town 
was incorporated in March, 1880, at which time it had a popu- 
lation of 705 and a valuation of $51,642. The population in 
1890 was 832, and the valuation $138,338. The rate of taxation 
was eleven and two-tenths mills on a dollar. 



MORO 

In the western part of Aroostook County and lying along 
the border of Penobscot County is the township formerly known 
as Rockabema, but now the plantation of Moro. This township 
is No. Six, Range Five, and is directly west of Merrill Planta- 
tion, north of the town of Hersey, and has for its northern bound- 
ary the unsettled township No. Seven, Range Five. The old 
Aroostook road, the mail route from Patten to Ashland, traverses 
the town, entering it about a mile and a half from the southwest 
corner and continuing in a general northeasterly direction en- 
tirely across the town, crossing its north line a little more than 
a mile from the northeast comer of the town. 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 257 

The first settlement of the town dates away back to the 
stirring times of the Aroostook War, and the first settler who 
established a residence here was Mr. Isaac Lewis, who came 
from the town of Clinton in 1838 and settled in the extreme 
northern portion of the town. Mr. Lewis cleared up a large 
farm upon which he lived for about twelve years, when he 
moved to Patten and afterward to Pennsylvania. His daughter, 
Mrs. Wm. S. Chase, now lives on a farm near where her father 
made his first settlement. 

In 1839 Mr. John Hale came from Detroit and settled near 
Mr. Lewis. He was a single man and after making a consider- 
able clearing moved to Sherman and afterwards to Dyer Brook, 
where he died. 

Joseph Baston came from Fairfield in 1840 and settled in 
the northeast part of the town on the lot upon which Mr. Chas. 
E. Baston now lives. He cleared up this farm and lived upon 
it until his death some twenty-e'ght years ago. Mr. George 
Baston came with his father to Moro and in 1850 settled on the 
lot opposite his father's, where he cleared up a large farm, upon 
which he now lives. The farm contains 215 acres of good land, 
situated upon a handsome ridge. J. W. Baston, George N. Bas- 
ton and Lewis W. Baston, all live on good farms near the old 
place. 

Jonas Hale, a brother to John Hale, came to Moro in 1842 
and settled on what is now called the Bryant place, next to the 
south line of the town, and on the east side of the Aroostook 
road. Here Mr. Hale made a clearing and lived upon the lot 
some twelve years, when he moved to Sherman. Mr. Horace 
Darling now lives on this farm. 

Mr. Henry T. Knowles came from the town of Corinna to 
Moro in 1843. He first settled upon the lot in the northeast 
corner of the town where Mr. Wm. S. Chase afterwards lived. 
He cleared a farm and built a house upon this lot and lived 
there until about 1850, when he moved to the Lewis place on 
the Aroostook road. He enlarged this farm, rebuilt the barn 
and made other improvements and lived upon the place nearly 
thirty years, when he moved to a lot just across the line in the 
unsettled township No. Seven, Range Five. Here Mr. Knowles 
made a good farm upon which he lived until his death some 
seven years ago. His son, Henry F. Knowles, now lives upon 
the Lewis place and also has the farm adjoining in No. Seven. 
He is located sixteen miles from Patten on the mail route to Ash- 
land. 



258 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Mr. Calvin Bradford came from the town of Turner to Pat- 
ten in 1838. In 1839 he moved to Township No. Seven, Range 
Five and took a lot near the Knowles place, where he cleared 
about forty acres and lived there until 1844, when he removed 
to Moro and settled on the Aroostook road, something less than 
a mile north of the south line of the town. Here he made a good 
farm and lived upon it until his death in 1875. His son, Ezek- 
iel F. Bradford, lived with him and had the active management 
of the farm for a number of years before his father's death. 
He has since enlarged the farm, which is now one of the best 
in this section. It contains 500 acres of excellent land, with 175 
acres cleared. 

Mr. El'sha Brown came from Sherman and settled in Moro 
in 1845. Mr. Brown had formerly lived in the town, having been 
in the employ of Mr. Isaac Lewis, the first settler. Mr. Brown 
took a lot on the Aroostook road a mile and a half north of Mr. 
Bradford's. Here he made a good farm and bu'lt a set of 
buildings. He lived upon the farm until his death some eighteen 
years ago. Mr. Robert Kennedy now lives on this farm. 

Mr. Dan'el Darling came from the town of Hartland in 1840 
and first settled in the town of Hersey, where he lived four 
years, and in 1844 moved to Moro and took a lot on the Aroos- 
took road a short distance north of Calvin Bradford's. Here he 
cleared a farm upon which he lived until his death in 1863. His 
grandson, Lysander Darling, now lives on this farm. He has 
75 acres of good land with 40 acres cleared, and has a good 
set of build'ngs. Mr. Patr'ck Darling, a son of Daniel Darling, 
came from Hartland in 1838 and worked upon the Aroostook 
road, wh'ch was then being constructed. Mr. Ira Fish of Patten 
was agent for the construction of this road in that vicin'ty. Mr. 
Darling worked on the road in Bened'cta, in Mt. Chase and in 
Moro, and in 1840 settled on a lot in the town of Hersey, where 
he cleared some 10 acres and built a log house. He lived there 
until 1845, v;hen he moved to Moro and bought of Samuel Chase 
the lot next north of Mr. Daniel Darl'ng's. There was a small 
improvement uoon the lot and Mr. Darling here made a good 
farm upon which he has lived ever since. He is now 77 years 
old and is one of the oldest living res'dents of the town. He 
has 200 acres of land with 75 acres cleared, and has a comfort- 
able s'^.t of bu'ldmgs. The farm is somewhat stony in places, 
but is good, strong, productive land and raises good crops of 
hay and grain. 

Mr. Josiah Bates came from Palmyra in 1845 and first set- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 259 

tied in the town of Hersey, where he lived two years and in 
1847 moved to Moro and settled on the lot next north of Elisha 
Brown's. Here he cleared a farm upon which he lived until his 
death some twenty-two years ago. His son, Albert H. Bates, 
now lives on the farm. 

Mr. Chas. Chase has a good farm. He has also a clapboard 
and shingle mill on the West Branch of the Mattawamkeag, 
which stream the Aroostook road crosses near Mr. Chase's farm. 
In this mill is one shingle machine, a clapboard machine and 
planer. 

After crossing the West Branch the road ascends a steep 
hill, near the top of which is the farm of Mr. Benj. Brown. Mr. 
Brown was a soldier in the 31st Me. Reg.ment and settled on this 
lot in 1870, and has made a good farm. 

The State road, so called, runs from Smyrna M'lls in a due 
east course on the town lines until it intersects tlie old Aroostook 
road. This road runs along the south line of Moro Plantation 
and is settled for the greater part of the distance across the 
town. Mr. Solomon Bates was the first settler in Moro upon 
the State road. Mr. Bates came from the town of Fairfield in 
1851 and settled on Lot No. 82, which was one of the public 
lots reserved for school purposes. The State road had then been 
cut through but was not passable for carriages. It is now a 
good turnpike road for its entire distance from Smyrna Mills 
to the Aroostook road. Mr. Bates cleared a farm of ninety 
acres of good land and lived on it ten years, when he moved 
across the road into the town of Hersey, where he still resides. 

Mr. George L. Bates came from Fairfield in 1851 and made 
a clearing on the lot adjoining Solomon Bates. He remained 
some three years and removed to Hersey. Mr. Robert Sturte- 
vant came from Waterville the same year and made a clearing 
near where the State road crosses the West Branch. He re- 
mained some six or seven years and returned to Waterv'lle. 

Mr. David B. Bates came from Hersey to Moro in 1851 and 
made a clearing on the west half of the lot adjoining Solomon 
Bates. In 1864 he sold his improvements to Solomon Bates and 
took the lot next north of Solomon's on which there was a good 
mill privilege. In 1867 David B. Bates and Smith Oilman 
bu'lt a mill on Mill Brook, which runs across the last mentioned 
lot and empties "'.to the West Branch a short distance below. 

Mr. William Jameson came from the town of Lee in 1860 
and made a clearing on the lot next west of Robert Sturtevant. 
He stayed a year and then went into the army and never re- 



260 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

turned to Moro. 

Mr. John Doe came from Kenduskeag in 1860 and took the 
lot west of Mr. Solomon Bates. Mr. Doe made a large clearing 
and lived upon the farm until 1886, when he sold it to Mr. Chas. 
U. Brewer, and moved to Hodgdon and afterwards to New Lim- 
erick. Mr. Brewer still lives upon the farm. 

Mr. Granville Gary came from Lincoln in 1868 and settled 
on the lot next west of John Doe. He remained some five or 
six years and sold to Mr. Cyrus Wade and returned to Lincoln. 
Mr. Robert Palmer now lives on this farm. 

Mr. George Cole came from Patten in 1874 and settled on 
the lot next v/est of Robert Sturtevant. He remained four years 
and sold to Mr. H. J. Palmer and moved to the West. Mr. Pal- 
mer still lives upon the farm. 

In going to Moro from Smyrna Mills by the State road, af- 
ter pass'ng the Stephens settlement in Dyer Brook, the road 
descends a steep hill and then runs for some distance through 
a piece of woods on low land. Coming out of the woods we find 
a few small clearings, with log houses and few improvements, 
until we come to the West Branch of the Mattawamkeag, which 
the State road crosses a short distance from the town line. 

The township was surveyed and lotted in 1833, by Rufus 
Gilmore and was first organized as a plantation under the name 
of Rockabema, in 1850. In 1860 the name was changed to Moro. 
Though not ranking among the best Aroostook townships for 
agricultural purposes, yet the settled portion of the town con- 
tains many good farmiS and comfortable homes and the social 
and moral standing of the citizens is of the first order. 



MACWAHOC 



Leaving Reed Plantation, as we journey southward, the old 
Mil'tary road runs for some two miles across the southeast cor- 
ner of North Yarmouth Academy Grant, an unsettled township, 
and then enters Macwahoc Plantation. L'ke many other towns 
in Aroostook County, the first opening made in the wilderness 
in what is now the thriving plantation of Macwahoc was for the 
purpose of manufacturing lumber. 

As early as 1829 or 1830, Messrs. Thayer and Jewett built 
a mill on the Macwahoc Stream, about a mile above its junc- 
t'on with the Molunkus. The Military road crosses the Macwa- 
hoc Stream near this mill. It contained or'ginally only an up 
and down saw. After a number of years Messrs. Edward and 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 261 

Ivory Lord of Charleston bought this mill. Mr. Alex. McLain 
afterwards purchased it and rebuilt it in a more substantial 
manner and after operating some five or six years sold to Mr. 
Edwin Buck, who afterwards sold to Mr. John McCausland of 
Kingman, the present proprietor. 

Mr. John Babcock came from Lincoln about the time this 
mill was first built and put up a log house on the east side of 
the Molunkus and kept tavern there in the woods for a number 
of years. 

Mr, John Weston came from Lincoln in 1832 and settled at 
the mill. He worked in the mill some three years and then 
bought a lot of land nearby, where he cleared a farm and lived 
upon it until his death some twelve years ago. 

Mr. Samuel Butterfield came from Sidney socr. after the 
building of the mill and built a hotel on the east side of the 
Molunkus Stream, near the place where the Kingman road now 
joins the Military road. After a few years he sold the hotel to 
Mr. Frank Butterfield, who a fev/ years later sold it to Mr. 
Richard Libby, who came from Old Town about 1838. After 
keeping this hotel some five years Mr. Libby moved to the 
mouth of the Aroostook road, in Molunkus, where he kept a hotel 
for a number of years and then removed to Mattawamkeag and 
died there. 

Mr. James Libby also came from Old Town in 1838 and 
settled on the lot where Mr. Frank Libby now lives. He cleared 
this farm and built the buildings and lived there until his death 
in 1875. Mr. Chas. Kimball came from Hiram at about the 
same time and settled on a lot a short distance south of the 
Macwahoc Stream. He cleared a farm and died there many 
years ago. His son, F. P. Kimball, now lives upon the farm, 
which is on the Kingman road a short distance south of the 
corner. 

A short distance after entering Macwahoc Plantation, we 
ccme to the large farm and hotel so long known as the Reed 
place, and also to old-timers on the road, as the Ramsdell place. 
Mr. John Rollins made the first clearing on this place about 
1848. He built a two-story house and a large stable and opened 
a hotel. He afterv/ards sold to Mr. James Emerson, who in 
turn sold to Col. William Ramsdell. After a few years Col. 
Ramsdell sold the property to Mr. Hugh Reed, who kept the 
hotel for many years. Stage passengers from Bangor to Houl- 
ton, who made the trip away back in the "fifties," can well re- 
member the cold ride from Mattawamkeag Point to the Reed 



262 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

place before breakfast on a winter's morning, and also the 
glowing fire and good warm breakfast that awaited them on 
their arrival about daylight. After Mr. Reed bought the place 
the house was burned. He built a new house and that also, 
together with the stable, was afterwards burned. Col. Eben 
Webster of Orono then bought the place and built a small house 
upon It and raised hay and grain upon the farm for his lum- 
bering operations. He afterwards sold to Mr. Frank Stratton, 
who enlarged the house and kept a hotel until a year ago, when 
he sold to Mr. S. S. White, the present proprietor. 

A short distance below Mr. White's we come to the old 
Martin farm. Mr. William Martin came here from the western 
part of the State and commenced a clearing many years ago. 
He made a good farm and lived on It until his death some fif- 
teen years ago. His son, John Martin, a veteran soldier, now 
lives on the old homestead. 

From Mr. Martin's the road runs for some two miles through 
the woods to the mill, where the road crosses the Macwahoc 
Stream. After crossing the bridge we come to the Donnelly 
farm on the west side of the road. Mr. Alexander Donnelly 
came here in the early days of the settlement and cleared this 
;farm and lived on It until some five years ago, when he moved 
to Wisconsin and there died. His son, Mr. Frank Donnelly, now 
has the farm. 

Macwahoc Plantation lies on the line of Penobscot County 
and has Reed Plantation on the east and Molunkus on the west. 
The Molunkus Stream runs diagonally across the corners of 
Townships No. 1, Range 5, and No. 1, Range 4 (North Yar- 
mouth) and continues on in a general southerly direction across 
Macwahoc Plantation. A portion of the lower part of Molunkus 
Lake Is in Macvv'ahoc, the outlet being by a stream less than a 
mile In length, which empties into the Molunkus Stream near 
where that stream makes an abrupt bend to the east. The Mac- 
wahoc Stream, flowing down from North Yarmouth Grant, con- 
tinues across the plantation to which It gives the name, and 
empties Into the Molunkus Stream a short distance below the 
Military road. There are numerous other brooks and streams In 
different portions of the town which give It a plentiful water 
supply. 

Macwahoc was organized at a plantation in 1851. The village, 
near the junction of the Macwahoc Stream with the Molunkus, 
Is but six and a half miles distant from Kingman Station, and 
is a neat and evid^tly growing village. A part of the town Is 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 263 

still unsettled, but there are some very good farms and hand- 
some residences in the settled portions of the town. The popula- 
tion in 1890 was 216 and the valuation was $36,193. 



CRYSTAL 



Crystal Plantation, formerly township No. 4, Range 5, lies 
next to the Penobscot County line bordering on Patten. Fish 
Stream, a tributary of the west branch of the Mattawamkeag, 
runs through the middle of the town and empties into the west 
branch a short distance west of the village of Island Falls. 

Mr. Wm. Young was the first settler who brought a family 
to the township. He came from Searsmont in 1839 and settled 
on a State lot a mile and a half east of the Patten line. The 
whole country east of Patten was at that time an unbroken wil- 
derness. Mr. Young cleared up a large farm and built a good 
stand of buildings and lived upon the farm until 1851, when he 
sold to Mr. S. P. Bradford and moved to a farm which was taken 
about 1837 by Mr. John Hammond of Patten. Some ten years 
ago Mr. Young removed to the West, where he afterwards died. 
Mr. William C, Hackett now lives upon this farm. 

In 1839 Mr. Isaac Webber came from the town of China and 
settled on the lot next west of Mr. Young, where he made a 
farm upon which he lived until his death, some two years ago. 
Mr. Albert Corliss now lives on this farm. 

The same year Mr. John Bell came from Belfast and set- 
tled on the lot east of Mr. Young's, where he lived until his 
death some six or eight years ago. His widow still lives upon 
the farm. 

Mr. George W. Hackett came from Vermont the same year 
and took a lot on the south side of Crystal Stream, which flows 
down from a lake in Hersey Plantation, next township north of 
Crystal, and empties into Fish Stream a short distance east of 
the center of the town of Crystal. Mr. Hackett cleared up a 
large farm and lived on it until his death some ten years ago. 
His son, George Hackett, now lives on this farm. 

The same year Mr. James Cunningham came from Sears- 
mont and settled on the lot east of Mr. Bell's. He cleared up 
a fine farm here and built a good set of buildings and lived on 
the farm until two years ago, when he moved to Patten. Mr. 
Robert McKeen now lives on this farm. 

In 1841 Mr. Hiram Hersey came from Foxcroft and took 
a lot west of Mr. Young's, where he lived for many years and 



264 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

then moved to a farm in the west part of the town, on what is 
no called the Cow Team road. Mr. Hersey afterwards moved 
to Patten and has for a number of years been engaged in the 
lumbering business. 

Mr. William Ward came from Franklin County about 1841 
and settled on a lot a half mile east of the Patten line on what 
is called Fobes' hill. Mr. Ward lived on this farm until his 
death a number of years ago. Mr. Brad. Kenney now lives on 
the farm. 

Mr. Bela Chesley came from Lincoln in 1841 and settled on 
the lot next west of Hiram Hersey's, where he lived some ten 
years or more and then removed to the West, where he after- 
wards died. The same year Mr. Jonas Drury settled on what 
is now the lower road from Island Falls to Patten on the east 
side of Crystal Stream. He made a farm here and lived on it 
a number of years and then moved to Ohio. 

Mr. John Conant came from Franklin County the same year 
and settled on the lot north of Mr. George W. Hackett. He 
lived on this farm until about the time of the war, when he 
removed to Bangor. He was an officer in the army during the 
war and afterwards settled in South Carolina. Mr. Eugene 
Thorn now lives on this farm. 

Mr. S. P. Bradbury came from the town of Windsor in 1841. 
He v/as then a young man with no family and worked for a 
number of years in the woods and on the river. In 1851 he 
bought the William Young farm and lived upon it until 1867, 
when he moved to a farm on the lower road and in 1885 bought 
the farm near the junction of the roads which he has recently 
sold to Mr. William Hackett. Mr. Bradford is a prominent 
citizen of the town and was a soldier in the 1st Maine Cavalry. 

In 1842 Mr. Jedediah Fairfield of China bu'lt a mill on 
Crystal Stream near Mr. George W. Hackett's. This mill had 
an up and down saw run by water and furnished lumber for the 
settlers in Crystal and Island Falls. Mr. Joseph Kimball after- 
wards bought the mill and ran it for a number of years, when 
it was abandoned and went to decay. Five years ago Mr. 
Roscoe Noyes built a mill on the same stream a short distance 
above the site of the old mill. 

The stage road from Island Falls to Patten runs through 
the northern part of Crystal and crosses Fish Stream a short 
distance from the east line of the town. The old road ran 
directly west on the lot lines over the high ground in the north 
part of the town. About six miles from the town line a road 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 265 

now branches off to the south for about a mile and then runs in 
a westerly course across the town to Patten village. Near the 
turn of the road on a fine elevation is the Free Baptist meeting 

house. 

In 1843 Mr. David Coffin came from Waterville and bought 
a block of one thousand acres of land in the western part of 
Crystal next to the Patten line. He cleared up a large farm and 
lived on it until his death in 1875. Mr, Whitmas Coffin now lives 
on this farm. 

Crystal was organized as a plantation in 1840 and is one 
of the best townships in Western Aroostook, The population 
in 1890 was 297 and the valuation $73,739. 

REED 



As we journey down the old Military road, every mile of 
which brings back recollections of "ye olden t'me" when this 
was the grand thoroughfare of northeastern Maine, after passing 
through Glenwood we com.e to Reed Plantation, the northwest 
corner of v/hich is crossed by this road. A short distance below 
the north line of the township we come to Happy Corner, where 
the Baskahegan road intersects the old Military road. 

The old hotel here is now owned by Mr. George W. Win- 
ship, who came here from Amity some twenty years ago. Con- 
nected with the hotel is a farm of eighty acres of tolerably good 
land, with some forty acres cleared. The buildings are now 
considerably out of repair and, like nearly all the old landmarks 
along this road, show unmistakable signs of neglect, caused by 
the withdrawal of travel and traffic from the road. 

Below Happy Corner the road runs through the woods for 
nearly three miles, when we come to the Clifford Settlement, on 
a very handsome ridge of fertile land, where the first opening 
was made in the township. 

The first settler who brought a family to the town and made 
a clearing in the wilderness for the purpose of farming was 
Capt. John S. Clifford, who came from Dover in 1832 and set- 
tled on the lot on which his son, Mr. Jonas Clifford, now lives. 
He was captain of a militia company in Dover and was a man 
of stalwart build, standing six feet, four inches in his stockings. 
Capt. Clifford cleared a large farm, upon which he lived until 
his death some thirty years ago. He built a good set of build- 
ings and kept a public house for many years and was a man 
well and favorably known throughout this section. 



266 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Mr. Levi Prouty came from Dover soon after Capt. Clifford 
and settled on the lot now owned and occupied by Miss Judith 
Plummer, a mile north of the Clifford place. Mr. Prouty and 
Capt. Clifford both married daughters of Mr. Seth Spaulding 
before moving from Dover. Mr. Prouty made a clearing on his 
lot and built buildings and lived there until his death in 1837. 
He was a carpenter and millwright by trade and was a man of 
some education and a great lover of books. After his death his 
widow and sons carried on the farm for a number of years and 
kept public house, as in fact did nearly all the settlers along 
this portion of the road at that time. 

A short time before Capt. Clifford made his settlement on 
the town Mr. Gorham Rollins came from Belgrade and built a 
log house and stable for the purpose of putting up teamsters 
and travellers upon the road, as the transportation of supplies 
for the garrison at Houlton had already caused considerable 
business on this road. Large lumber operations also were car- 
ried on in this vicinity, bringing in many men and teams and 
making lively business for these primitive houses of entertain- 
ment. Soon after coming to the town Gorham Rollins married 
a daughter of Mr. Seth Spaulding, and after his death in 1835 
his brother, John Rollins, married the widow and continued to 
live upon the place until his death in 1850. His son, Mr. Green- 
wood Rollins, now has the farm. Mr. Elijah Norton came from 
Belgrade with Gorham Rollins, but did not make any settlement 
in the town, and after remaining a short time, returned to Bel- 
grade. 

Mr. Seth Spaulding came from Dover in 1833 and made 
the first chopping on the farm at Happy Corner. He d'd not 
settle on the lot, however, but went to a lot a few miles farther 
north in the adjoining township of Glenwood, where he made 
his settlement and was the pioneer of that town. 

Mr. Abram Niles came from Vermont about 1840 and took 
the lot at Happy Corner. He built a house of hewn timber, 
neatly dovetailed at the corners, and a framed barn. Mr. Niles 
cleared a farm here and kept a hotel for some fifteen years and 
then removed to Houlton, where he died about twelve years ago. 

Mr. Jeremiah Thompson came from Bancroft in 1847 and 
married the widow of Mr. Levi Prouty. He lived upon the farm 
until his death in 1857. 

Mr. Jonathan L. Plummer was one of the early settlers of 
Glenwood and had moved from that town to Levant, where he 
resided until he settled in Reed Plantation. He continued to 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 267 

Teside upon this farm until his death in 1872. His daughter, 
Miss Judith Plummer, now owns the farm and resides upon it. 
Miss Plummer was for four years an army nurse under Miss 
Dorothy L. Dix, and was with the army of the Potomac in the 
field and hospital. She was at the battle of Gettysburg and re- 
lates many interesting reminiscences of that great battle. At 
the close of the war she was appointed to a clerkship in the 
treasury department, in which capacity she served until 1882, 
when she was obliged to resign her position on account of an 
affection of the eyes which very much injured her sight. Miss 
Plummer is a lady of much culture and relates in a most inter- 
esting manner her eventful army experiences. 

Mr. Benj, Condon came from Penobscot County about 1860 
and bought the farm at Happy Corner. He built a two-story 
house and a large stable and kept a hotel for five years or 
more, when his brother, Sumner Condon, took the hotel and kept 
it some five years. The property has since gone through a num- 
ber of hands and is now owned by Mr. George W. Winship. 

From Happy Corner the Baskahegan road runs in a south- 
westerly direction across the northeast corner of Reed, and, 
crossing the Mattawamkeag River in Bancroft, continues on 
until it intersects the Calais road in the southern part of the 
town of Weston. This road runs through the forest for the en- 
tire distance across Reed Plantation. Below Happy Corner we 
ride through the woods for nearly three miles and come out to 
the farm of Miss Plummer, situated on the west side of the road 
and containing 137 acres of good land, with something over 25 
acres cleared and a comfortable set of buildings. A short dis- 
tance below on the opposite side of the road is the farm of Mr. 
Peryel W. Clifford, a grandson of Capt. John S. Clifford. Near 
here is the Clifford family cemetery, neatly enclosed and well 
kept. Next below on the west side of the road is the farm of 
Mr. Seth S. Clifford, a son of the first settler. These farms are 
all situated on a handsome swell of dry land and produce well. 
Mr. Clifford has in former years engaged in the lumber busi- 
ness to some extent, as indeed have nearly all the settlers in this 
vicinity. A short distance below, on the east side of the road, 
is the old Capt. Clifford homestead, now owned and occup"ed by 
Mr. Jonas S. Clifford, the oldest living son. This is the best 
farm in the settlement and contains 250 acres, with something 
over 60 acres cleared, a large house in good repair and large 
and well kept barns and outbuildings. Adjoining Mr. Seth Clif- 
ford on the south is the farm of Mr. Greenwood Rollins, con- 



268 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

taining eighty acres, with forty acres cleared. From Mr. Rol- 
lins's to the town line, a distance of about a mile, the land is 
unsettled. 

The line of the. E. & N. A. Railway (now the Maine Cen- 
tral) runs across the southeast corner of Reed Plantation and at 
Wytopitlock Station quite a little settlement has been built up. 
Mr. William Staples and Mr. Bruce Springer have stores here 
and Mr. Horace Rand has built a large new store. The hotel is 
kept by Mr. Gorham Rollins. There are three blacksmith shops, 
a schoolhouse and postoffice. Mr. Wm, Staples is the present 
postmaster. 

In 1889 the north part of Drew Plantation in Penobscot 
County was annexed to Reed Plantation and a bridge is now be- 
ing built across the Mattawamkeag River a short distance from 
the station. 

The Wytopitlock Stream runs for some distance quite near 
to the west line of the township, then turns to the southeast and 
empties into the Mattawamkeag a short distance south of the 
old county line. 

With the exception of the settlers on the military road and 
on the line of the Maine Central R. R., the town is wholly cov- 
ered with forest and is owned by non-resident proprietors. When 
Capt. Clifford first settled upon the town it was owned by Messrs. 
Pickering and Morrill, but was afterv/ards sold to Mr. Harvey 
Reed of Bangor, from whom the plantation took its name. 

In 1890 Reed Plantation had a population of 203 and its 
valuation was $45,451. 



CARY 

Directly south of the town of Hodgdon and lying along the 
New Brunsv/ick line, is the plantation of Cary, formerly known 
as No. 11, Range One. The mail route from Houlton to Calais 
runs through Cary and it is settled for nearly the entire distance 
along this road. The plantation of Cary comprises but a half 
township, being six miles east and west and three miles from 
north to south. It is bounded on the north by Hodgdon, east by 
New Brunswick, south by Amity and west by Letter A Town- 
ship. 

It is generally conceded that the first man who made a 
chopping upon the town was John Allen, who as early as 1824 
commenced a clearing on what is now known as Skidgell Ridge, 
in the north part of the town, about a mile and a half east of 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 269 

the Calais road. Allen was an old English soldier and fought 
under Wellington at Waterloo. He did not make any perman- 
ent home upon the lot and a year or two after coming to the 
town was taken sick and went to live with Mr. David Moore, at 
whose house he died in 1833. Probably the first man who made 
a permanent settlement on the town "was Mr. George Robinson, 
who came to No. 11 in 1825 and settled on what was afterwards 
better known as the Putnam lot, though it is still referred to by 
old settlers as the Robinson lot. Mr. Robinson cleared a large 
farm here and lived on it until about 1842, when he sold to 
Joshua and J. Varnum Putnam of Houlton, and after living in 
Amity for a short time, moved to Smyrna. 

Mr. Robert McFarland came the same year (1825) and set- 
tled on the lot now owned by James Oliver on the horseback, 
west of the Meduxnekeag Stream. Mr, McFarland commenced 
a clearing on this lot, but soon afterwards sold his improvement 
to Edward Dority, and never afterwards had any settlement in 
the town. He remained a few years, living with Mr. Hugh 
Smith, and then removed to the Bay of Chaleur. 

Mr. David Moore came from Hodgdon to No. 11 in 1825. 
He had lived for two years on the farm now owned by Mr. Chas. 
Nickerson in Hodgdon, next to the No. 11 line. Mr. Moore first 
settled on the lot afterwards owned by Mr. James Duffy in the 
north part of the town^ where he lived two years. Mr. Hugh 
Sharp made a chopping on a lot in the south part of the town, 
and in 1827 Mr. Moore exchanged lots with him and moved to 
the farm on which he lived so many years. Mr. Sharp lived but 
a short time on the Duffy place. Mr. Moore cleared the farm in 
the south part of the town and built a comfortable set of build- 
ings, and was a well-known citizen for many years. He died at 
his home in 1871. His son, David Moore, lives upon the old 
homestead, and James Moore, another son, lives upon the farm 
opposite. 

Mr. Hugh Smith emigrated from Ireland to Fredericton, 
N. B., and in 1826 moved to No. 11 and settled on the lot where 
William Smith now lives. Here he cleared up a farm and built 
a log house and a frame barn. He lived upon the farm until 
1845, when he moved to Amity, where he died in 1859. Mr. 
B. F. Nickerson of Linneus then came into possession of the 
farm, and in 1850 Mr. William Smith, a son of Hugh Smith, 
bought the old homestead and has lived upon it ever since. 

Mr. John Reed also emigrated from Ireland to New Bruns- 
wick, and in 1827 came to No. 11 and settled in the south part 



270 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

of the town on the lot adjoining Mr. David Moore's. The town: 
was not at that time lotted and the first settlers were merely 
squatters upon the land. The half township was lotted in 1831 
by John Webber and was then opened by the State for settle- 
ment. Mr. Reed cleared the farm upon which he first settled^ 
and continued to live on it until his death in 1861. The farm 
was then divided between his two sons, William and Alexander, 
who still reside upon it. 

Mr. Hipps Dow moved from New Brunswick in 1827, and 
settled on the lot next west of Mr. Hugh Smith. Here he made 
a farm upon which he lived for some 20 years, and then moved 
to Bancroft. Mr. Samuel Seamans now lives on this farm. 

Mr. James Dow also came from New Brunswick in 1827 
and first settled on the lot where Mr. Truman Williams now 
lives. He was a blacksmith by trade, and afterwards lived in a 
number of places in the town and finally returned to New 
Brunswick. 

Mr. James McClinchy came from New Brunswick in 1827 
and settled in the east part of the town on what is now the 
Fanjoy lot, where he made a clearing and lived there until his 
death many years ago. 

Mr. Jonathan Tracy came from New Brunswick in 1828 and 
settled on the lot next west of Mr. George Robinson, He cleared 
a farm and lived on it nearly twenty years and then returned 
to New Brunswick. His farm is now a part of the Putnam farm. 

Mr. Edward Dority came from Ireland and settled in No. 
11 in 1827, on the lot afterward owned by James Duffy. He 
made a large clearing and lived on the farm until his death in 
1845. 

Mr. Daniel Neal, the first settler in the tov/n of Linneus, 
was also an early settler in No. 11. Mr. Neal settled in Linneus 
in 1828 and a few years later moved to No. 11 and settled on 
the lot where Owen Scott now lives. He built a house of hewn 
pine timber, nicely dovetailed together at the corners, and lived 
in it some ten years and then moved to Jackson Brook. 

The above named are all the early settlers of the town of 
whom we have any reliable account, and if there were any others 
they were but transient men who never made any permanent 
settlement upon the township. No other settlers came to the 
town for a number of years and the hardy pioneers mentioned 
above were in the midst of the forest and obliged to depend 
largely upon their own resources for subsistence. There were 
no roads for years after these first settlers commenced to make: 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 271 

I 
their farms in the wilderness and their families were subject to 
all the hardships and privations that fall to the lot of the pio- 
neers of a new country. The first road opened through the town 
was a somewhat circuitous route, running from Westford hill in 
Hodgdon some distance to the eastward of the present County 
road. The road from Houlton to Calais was opened in 1836 and 
was built through No. 11 by Mr. Jonah Dunn. 

In 1842 Mr. Joshua Putnam of Houlton moved to No. 11, 
and in company with his brother, J. Varnum Putnam, bought the 
Robinson farm. They afterward bought the Jonathan Tracy 
farm, adjoining on the west, and here Mr. Joshua Putnam made 
a large farm upon which he lived for some twenty years and 
then returned to Houlton. The farm was then divided between 
his sons, Varney and Otis. Mr. Otis Putnam had the north half 
of the farm and lived upon it until his death in 1873. He served 
about two years in the army and returned with broken health. 
He was a good citizen and was much respected by all who knew 
him. Mr. Joshua Pollard now owns this farm. 

Mr. Varney Putnam was also one of the substantial citizens 
of the town. He had the south half of the homestead farm and 
lived upon it until his death some twelve years ago. His widow 
still lives upon the farm with her son, Mr. B. H. Putnam. 

Mr. Truman Williams moved from Hodgdon to No. 11 in 
1842 and settled on the lot where he now lives. Mr. Hugh Smith 
had made a small clearing on the lot, but it was for the most 
part covered with forest growth. Mr. Williams cleared the farm 
and has lived upon it ever since. He is now advanced in years 
and his son, Moses Williams, has the active management of the 
farm. 

Mr. Ebenezer Williams moved from Hodgdon in 1849 and 
took the lot east of his son Truman's. He cleared this farm and 
l-'ved on it until his death in 1868. His sons, James and Cyrus 
Williams, now live on the old homestead. 

Mr. James Merrill settled in No. 11 about 1842. He was 
a cooper by trade, and had a small clearing on the Calais road 
a short distance south of the Hodgdon line. He lived there un- 
til 1872, when he returned to the western part of the State. His 
son, Putnam Merrill, was a soldier in the old Sixth Maine Bat- 
tery, and nobly did his duty. His service in the army shattered 
his health and he did not live long after his return. He was a 
brave and faithful soldier and an honest man. 

Mr. Jacob Russell came from the Bay of Chaleur and in 
1845 settled on the lot upon which Daniel Neal made his clear- 



272 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

ing and lived in the timber house built by Mr. Neal for some ten 
years. He then moved to the lot on the Calais road on which 
Mr. Matthew Cassidy now lives. Mr. Russell lived on this farm 
until 1866, when he sold it to his son, Asa Russell. Jacob Rus- 
sell died in 1872 and Asa lived on the farm until 1874, when he 
moved to Danforth. 

Mr. James Duffy came from Ireland and settled in No. 11 
in 1846, on the Edward Dority farm. When Mr. Duffy took the 
farm there was a clearing of some twenty-five acres and a small 
house. Mr. Duffy built a good set of buildings and lived upon 
the farm until 1888, when he sold to Mr. George Alexander and 
moved to Houlton. Mr. Duffy was one of the prosperous farm- 
ers of No. 11 and was a good citizen of the town. 

Most of the settlers mentioned above established their 
homes near the line of the Calais road and now have comfort- 
able residences along this road. 

In coming to the town from Hodgdon the road runs for a 
short distance through a tract of lov/ land in the north part of 
the town. This section is still unsettled and is hardly suitable 
for farming purposes. About a half mile from the north line 
of the town v/e come to the store and mill of Messrs. Norton & 
Bradbury. Mansur Bros, of Houlton built the mill on the 
Meduxnekeag Stream, a short distance west of the Calais road, 
in 1884. This mill contained one shingle machine, a rotary for 
sawing long lumber, and machinery for the manufacture of po- 
tato starch. Messrs. Norton & Bradbury of Houlton bought the 
property in 1890. Ransom Norton, Esq., the senior member of 
the firm, came from Livermore to Houlton in 1854 and was em- 
ployed as principal in the Houlton Academy for two years. He 
was admitted to the bar in 1866 and was clerk of courts for 
Aroostook County from 1868 to 1880 and from 1883 to 1887, 
making s'xteen years of service in this capacity. Mr. Norton 
now resides in Cary and gives his personal attention to the busi- 
ness. Mrs. Ransom Norton is the present postmistress of Cary. 
Mr. Henry C. Bradbury is the youngest son of Mr. True Brad- 
bury, one of the earliest settlers of the town of New Limerick. 
Mr. Bradbury has been in mercantile business in Houlton for 
many years and held the office of county treasurer for a number 
of years. 

In the western part of the town is some very good land, but 
the settlement was not made here until some time after that upon 
the Calais road. Near the meeting house a road turns to the 
west and after continuing in that direction for about a mile and 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 273 

a half, branches and one road runs southward into Amity, while 
the other continues to the west and northwest into Letter A. and 
Linneus. A short distance from the Calais road Mr. Hiram Tra- 
cy has a very good little farm of forty acres. Mr. Tracy came 
from Amity eight years ago and bought this farm. He devotes 
himself to teaching during the winter seasons and is a member 
of the S. S. Com. of this town. 

A short distance beyond is the farm of Mr. Thomas Haney. 
Mr. Haney lived with Mr. David Moore during his boyhood and 
in 1859 bought the farm in the east part of the town on which 
Mr. Alex Hnaey now lives. In 1863 he joined the 16th Maine 
Regiment and served through the war. At the close of h.s ser- 
vice he bought the farm on which he now lives. Mr. Haney is 
a carpenter and millwright and works at his trade much of the 
time. He is the present commander of Frank Hunter Post and 
is L'eutenant Colonel of the Regiment of Northern Maine 
G. A. R. 

Further in on this road is what is known as the Wilcox set- 
tlem.ent, as a large number of settlers of that name live on good 
farms in that section of the town. Mr. Benj. Wilcox, the father 
of the large family v/no settled here, came from Trescott, in 
•Washington County, in 1848 and settled on a lot in the v/est part 
of the town. He cleared up a good farm and lived upon it until 
his death twelve years ago. 

Reuben Wilcox came to Cary in 1849 and took a lot next 
north of his father's. He cleared up the farm and has lived on 
it ever since. He has a good set of buildings and is a prosperous 
farmer and a good citizen. 

William Wilcox settled south of his father and cleared a 
farm which he sold four years ago to Lew.s Libby, and moved to 
the east part of the town. 

John V/ilcox has a farm of 160 acres, with 50 acres cleared. 
This is a very good farm, with a good barn and comfortable 
house. James Wilcox has 160 acres, with 60 acres cleared. 
Dugald Wilcox bought the William Seamans farm in 1854. The 
farm contains 75 acres and when Mr. Wilcox bought it there was 
but a small clearing. He now has 50 acres cleared and a good 
set of buildings. 

Mr. William Seamans came from Lubec in 1844 and first 
settled on the lot on which Mr. John Wilcox nov/ lives. He 
stayed there one year and then moved to the lot upon which Mr. 
Dugald Wilcox now lives, where he remained twelve years and 
then sold to Mr, Wilcox and returned to Lubec. The next year 



274 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

he came back to Gary and bought a lot west of Mr. Truman Wil- 
liams, where he lived until his death in 1863. 

Joshua J. Seamans had the farm next west of his father's. 
He was a soldier in the Sixth Maine Battery and no braver man 
ever marched forth to fight for the old flag. Sergeant Seamans 
served through the war and returned with broken health and 
died in 1868. Mr. Nelson WilKams nov/ has this farm. 

Mr. George Herrlck came from Charleston in 1858 and took 
the lot next west of William Seamans. In 1864 he sold to Joshua 
J. Seamans and moved to Easton. 

Mr. Moses P. Libby came from Gharleston in 1858 and took 
half the Herrick lot, near the Amity line. He lived upon it un- 
til his death in 1868 and his widow still resides there with her 
sons, Daniel and Lewis Libby. 

Mr. James Haney came from Houlton in 1860 and settled 
on the lot where James Grover now lives. He cleared a farm 
and lived upon it until his death in 1884. 

Mr. Lewis Brown of Houlton built a shingle mill on Davis 
Stream, near the Wilcox road, some twenty years ago. The mill 
run some eight years and was burned and has not been rebuilt. 
The dam still remains by the mill site. 

Mr. David Edwards has a good farm next to Reuben Wil- 
cox. He has 176 acres, with 70 acres cleared and a good set of 
buildings. 

In the south part of the town a road turns to the east from 
the Calais road and runs to the boundary line. Mr. Philip Cas- 
s'dy came from Woodstock in 1847 and settled on th"s road. He 
cleared a farm and lived on it until his death in 1860. Mr. Mat- 
thew Cassidy and sons now own this farm. Mr. James Cassidy 
came from Bay Chaleur in 1850 and settled on this road. He 
made a farm here and built a set of buildings and lived here 
until his death some fifteen years ago. His son, David, now car- 
ries on the farm. 

Near Mr. William Smith's a road turns east from the Calais 
road and after running in that direction for nearly two miles, 
turns to the north and afterwards to the northwest until it strikes 
the line between Gary and Hodgdon, where it turns to the west 
ard runs out on the town line until it intersects the Calais road. 
This road is settled for nearly the entire distance and, though 
running for much of the way through a hard farming section, yet 
on portions of the road there are some very good farms. Mr. 
Alexander Haney has a very good farm on this road, a short 
distance east of the Calais road. Mr. Haney settled on this farm 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 275 

in 1868. He has 220 acres of land with 80 acres cleared. The 
Horseback runs through this farm. 

Mr. Owen Scott and Isaac Sutter also have farms near Mr. 
Haney. Mr. John Wilcox lives on what was formerly the Peter 
Merchie farm, where the road turns to the north and runs by the 
farm of Mr. Charles Clifford and the Pollard farm and then turns 
to the northvv"est, in v/hich direction it runs to the north l!ne of 
the town. On this port"on of the road are some very good farms. 
Among these are the farms of Mr. John Spooner, Mr. David 
Skidgell, and the Fanjoy farms. This portion of the tov;n is 
known as the Skidgell Ridge. 

Mr. W.lliam Sk'dgell came from Hodgdon in 1863 and set- 
tled on this ridge, where he cleared a farm and lived on it until 
h"s death some five years ago. His son, David Skidgell, now has 
the farm, which is one of the best in this portion of the town. 

The half tov/nshlp will not rank as a first class town for ag- 
ricultural purposes, as much of the land is quite stony and dif- 
ficult to bring under cultivation. The soil in many portions of 
the town is strong and productive and the sturdy settlers by d^nt 
of much hard labor have made for themselves comfortable 
homes and seem to be prospering. 

The plantation v/as organized as No. 11, Range I in 1859, 
and in 1883 the name was changed to Cary, in honor of Hon. 
Shepard Cary, who formerly owned land in the township. There 
are five schools in the town, most of which are supplied with 
good, comfortable houses. The churches are well supported 
ard the social and moral tone of the town is good. The popula- 
tion of Cary in 1890 was 390 and the valuation $37,578. 



LETTER B. 



There are in Aroostook County a number of townships upon 
which rartial settlements have been made, but which are as yet 
but rttle developed and being somewhat off the main traveled 
thoroughfpres are not much known away from their immed'ate 
v'c'n'ty. Many of these townships contain large areas of excel- 
lent land for agricultural purposes and are capable of supporting 
a larsfe population and afford possibilities for as fine farms as 
can be found in any of the more thickly settled port'on^ of the 
county. The fact that these townships have passed from the 
possession of the State and are now owned by proprietors who 
purchased them chiefly for the timber, works against their de- 
velopment as agricultural towns. The right of these proprietors 



276 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

to the ownership and control of these lands cannot of course be 
questioned. The State consented to sell and these gentlemen 
paid their money for the lands and have an undoubted legal right 
to hold them for lumbering purposes, or to dispose of them as 
they see fit, and in these rights they should certainly be pro- 
tected. Still the fact remains that ownership of these townships 
by non-resident proprietors who derive a generous income from 
the sale of stumpage renders their settlement practically impos- 
sible and thus hinders in a large measure the development of the 
County and its increase in population and production. 

Among the townships capable of making good agricultural 
towns is Letter B, Range 2. This township lies directly east of 
Littleton, north of Ludlow and corners upon the town of Houlton. 
Leaving the stage road from Houlton to Presque Isle about a 
mile north of Houlton village, a road turns to the left and runs 
diagonally across the northwest quarter of the town of Houlton. 
This road not being a part of any stage route is not generally 
travelled except by the residents of that portion of the town and 
the settlers upon "Letter B," through which settlement the road 
continues. It is, however, an excellent turnpike road and runs 
through one of the most fertile agricultural portions of the town 
of Houlton. All along the road are handsome and productive 
farms with neat, well painted buildings and surroundings indi- 
cating thrift and prosperity. The natural scenery is very beau- 
tiful and this road affords a very fine pleasure drive upon a 
pleasant summer day. 

Crossing a branch of the Meduxnekeag something over a 
mile after leaving the Presque Isle road, we continue on in a 
northwesterly direction through what is known as the Niles set- 
tlement, where there are some fine farms and very handsome 
residences. The road here runs very near the stream and a 
branch road crosses the stream and continues due north through 
Houlton to the Littleton ridge. 

Passing the Niles settlement we ride by other handsome 
farms and leaving the town of Houlton through its extreme north- 
west corner, come to the township of "Letter B." The road en- 
ters this township at its southeast corner and runn'ng diagonally 
across two lots, then runs due west on the lot lines for something 
over two miles, when, like Emerson's highway, it ends in a squir- 
rel track and goes up a tree. 

Only a small tract in the southeastern portion of the town- 
ship is settled, but this settlement contains some very good 
farms. The township is owned by Madigan & Donworth, and 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 277 

much lumber has been cut upon it in years past. 

As we enter the settlement of Letter B, we first come to the 
farm and residence of Mrs. Pilsbury, on the left of the road. 
This is a very good farm with a handsome residence. Mrs. 
Pilsbury is a daughter of Col. Joshua C. Carpenter and formerly 
resided in Texas, her husband, now deceased, having been a 
member of Congress from that State. Miss Harriet Carpenter, 
a sister of Mrs. Pilsbury, resides with her. Col. Joshua C. Car- 
penter moved to Letter B. in 1862 and bought this lot for Mrs. 
Pilsbury and made his home here until his death in 1866. He 
v/as killed by a falling tree. A party of men were engaged in 
cutting a "drive," as it is called by choppers. The trees on quite 
an extent of ground are cut nearly off and then a large tree on 
the outer edge of the "drive" is chopped off and sent crashing 
upon the others, causing the whole piece to fall like bricks in a 
row. A large drive had been cut and two men were falling a 
large birch which was to carry with it in its fall all the partially 
chopped trees. Col. Carpenter stood at what was thought a 
safe distance, holding his watch to time the choppers. When 
the tree fell, a huge limb was hurled upon the Colonel, killing 
hirn instantly. Col. Carpenter was a man well known in many 
portions of Maine, having been formerly a prominent man in the 
Democratic party. He formerly res'.ded in Penobscot County 
and was at one time Sheriff of the County. He was a man of 
much force and vigor, always with the roughest side out, but 
possessed of a kind heart. In politics he Vv^'as a sturdy fighter, 
alv.ays wanting "a free field and a fair fight." His son. Major 
Stephen Decatur Carpenter, of the regular army, was a gentle- 
man of culture and a splendid soldier. He fell while gallantly 
fightiEg at the battle of Murfreesboro and v^^as much lamented by 
his comrades and many friends. 

A short distance beyond Mrs. Pllsbury's the road turns 
squarely to the west near the residence of Mr. Luther Snell. Mr. 
Srell moved to Letter B in 1866 and settled upon this lot, upon 
which a very small clearing had been made. He now has fifty 
acres of good land which produces fine crops and has a good, 
comfortable set of farm buildings. Mr. Snell is a son of Mr. 
Luther Snell, who was for so many years the genial and kindly 
landlord of the old Snell House in Houlton. Mr. Snell, Sr., 
died in Houlton three years ago. He gave up active business 
some years before his death and spent the last years of his life 
quietly among the many friends with whom he had so long been 
associated. 



278 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

On the opposite side of the road from Mr. Snell is the pleas- 
ant residence of Mr. Davidson, a printer by trade, who formerly 
worked in the office of the Aroostook Pioneer. He has now re- 
tired to the quiet shades of this farm in Letter B. and his neigh- 
bors have shown their appreciation of his worth by making him 
school supervisor. The schoolhouse is situated near his residence 
and a good school is here maintained. 

Next west of Mr. Snell's on the south of the road is the farm 
of Mr. George W. Carpenter, a grandson of the Colonel. His 
father, Mr. B. F. Carpenter, was the first man to make a clearing 
in the wilderness of Letter B. He came in 1858 and bought two 
lots and commenced clearing land. He built a log house and 
moved to his home in the forest in 1860. Here he continued to 
reside and to extend his clearing until his death, which occurred 
in January, 1879. His son now has the east half of the home- 
stead farm. Mr. Carpenter has about thirty acres of cleared land 
and raises good crops. The soil is rich and strong, not very 
stony and produces well. The residence is the comfortable 
frame house built by his father after the era of the log buildings 
was passed. His brother, Mr. Will'am N. Carpenter, has the 
west half of the homestead farm. He has thirty six acres cleared 
and under cultivation, and has a comfortable home. 

Opposite the homestead farm on the north side of the road 
is the farm of Mr. Thomas J. Carpenter, another son of Mr, 
B. F. Carpenter. He has 100 acres of good land, with fifty acres 
cleared and a good set of farm buildings. 

Next beyond Mr. Carpenter on the north of the road is Mr. 
Charles Stevens, who came to the town some fourteen years ago 
and made a small clearing and built a comfortable house. Mr. 
Stevens is a house carpenter and does not do much farming. Mr. 
Frank A. Hammond lives next west on a good farm with good 
buildings. He is a man who has faith in farming and will no 
doubt make a success of it. 

Opposite Mr. Hammond's, on the south of the road, is the 
farm of Mr. Michael Rugan, who commenced here something 
more than twenty years ago and now has a good farm with forty 
acres of cleared land. His next ne'ghbor on the west is Mr. 
George N. Crawford, who bought a wild lot here in 1863 and 
has made a good farm.. He is an industrious man and has made 
a comfortable home. Opposite Mr. Crawford's is the Jameson 
farm, which is a very good farm, and passing this we come to 
the last farm upon the road. Mr. Andrew Gardner came from 
New Brunswick twelve years ago and bought this lot, upon which 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 279 

Mr. William Batchelor had made a small clearing. Mr. Gardner 
now has one of the best farms in the town and has a new and 
handsome house. The road terminates at Mr. Gardner's and his 
fields are bordered on the west by the forest. There are a few 
farms in the extreme southwestern portion of the township ad- 
joining the Ludlow line. 

The Township of Letter B. is abundantly watered by 
streams and brooks. A branch of Meduxnekeag runs in an east- 
erly course entirely across the southern portion of the township 
and many brooks flow from the northern portions of the town 
into this stream. Mr. James G. McConnell has a mill on the 
Meduxnekeag, half a mile from the Littleton line. This mill 
was built many years ago by Josiah Gellerson and contains a 
rotary, lath machine, shingle machine and clapboard machine. 
The mill is run by water and formerly manufactured lumber for 
shipment, but has not been run to any extent for the past few 
years. Mr. Nelson Mitchell some years ago built a mill a mile 
above on the same stream. His son, Edward Mitchell, now runs 
the mill. 

Letter B. is a good settling town. It contains much good 
timber land interspersed with fine hard wood ridges. The town- 
ship was at one time organized as Hammond Plantation, but is 
now unorganized. 



MERRILL 



Township No. 6, Range 4 was in 1876 organized as Merrill 
Plantation, taking its name from Capt. William Merrill of Port- 
land, who bought the southeast quarter of the township about 
the year 1840. This township lies directly west of the town of 
Smyrna, north of Dyer Brook Plantation, and has Moro Planta- 
tion on its western boundary. The State road, so called, now 
runs on the line between Merrill and Dyer Brook the entire length 
of these towns. 

Capta'n Merrill made his first clearing on the hill west of 
the East Branch of the Mattawamkeag, a short distance from 
the Smyrna line. His son, Edward T. Merrill, moved to the town 
in 1844 and settled on this lot. The Merrills made a large farm 
here and built a good set of buildings. William G. Merrill an- 
other son of Capt. Merrill, had the next lot to the west. The 
Merrills lived in the town some ten years, when Capt. Merrill 
sold his interest to S. H. Blake, Esq., of Bangor, and his sons 
returned to Portland. Mr. William Anderson now lives upon the 



280 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

farm formerly occupied by Edward T. Merrill. The stage road 
from Koulton to Patten crosses the corner of the town and Mr. 
Anderson's buildings are on this road, the State road also run- 
ning along the south line of this farm. Mr. Arthur Rosie occu- 
pied the farm after Mr. Merrill left it and Mr. Anderson came 
to Merrill l~vventy-three years ago and bought the farm of Mr. 
Rosie. This is a very handsome farm, situated upon elevated 
land and has some very fine fields. It is under good cultivation 
and has a good set of farm buildings. The large barn v/as built 
by Capt. Merrill and the hinges upon the barn doors were made 
from iron taken from the British brig Boxer, which was captured 
off Portland by the gallant Lieutenant Burrows of the U. S. Brig 
Enterprise, on the 5th of September, 1813. The old settlers of 
the town report that Capt. Merrill bought the remains of the old 
British hulk and that he brought to the township many articles, 
mostly iron Implements, obtained fro mthat source. Relic hunt- 
ers can yet find in the tov;n an old crov/bar or two and some 
broken sabers and other articles taken from the Boxer. 

Turning to the right near Mr. Anderson's and riding toward 
the west on the State road, we first come to the farm of Mr. Ira 
K. Tarbell, which was the farm originally occupied by Mr. Wm. 
G. Merrill. This Is a good farm, well located and consists of 
110 acres of level land, with about 70 acres cleared. Next west 
is the farm of Mr. G. W. Tarbell, who came from Solon when a 
small bo^/, some forty-eight years ago. The next farm is occu- 
pied by MIlo E. Leavitt, a son of Moses Leavitt, whose residence 
is just across the road in Dyer Brook Plantation. Beyond Mr. 
Leavitt's the road enters a strip of woods and the land falls off 
toward Dyer Brook Stream, which the road crosses on a sub- 
stantial bridge. 

Alter passing through the v/oods we come out to the farm 
of Mr. Mellin Grant, and next beyond him, Mr. John Grant, both 
of whom have good farms. The next settler is Mr. Herbert 
Brown, who has a good farm on a handsome hardwood ridge. 
The next farm is occupied by the widow of Mr. Chas. Stephens, 
who came here from Ludlow eleven years ago and bought this 
lot, upon which there was a small clearing. He cleared up a 
large farm and built a handsome two-story house and a large 
barn. The farm is situated on a beautiful ridge of land and the 
view extends over vast areas of forest to the west and north, 
with little clearings dotted in at Intervals and winding streams 
glancing here and there in the sunlight, while the ranges of 
mountains extending noithward from old Katahdin form a grand 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 281 

and beautiful background to the picture. From the Stephens 
farm the land falls off to the west toward Moro, and there are 
no more settlers on the State road in Merrill. 

The old Smyrna and Rockabema road starts from the East 
Branch near Smyrna Mills and runs diagonally across Merrill 
Plantation in a northwesterly direction, leaving the town at the 
northwest corner and, after running about a mile and a half due 
west on the north line of Moro Plantation, intersects the stage 
road from Patten to Fort Kent. This road runs for a greater 
portion of the distance through an unsettled country, though 
there are some farms at intervals along the road. There are also 
some very good farms in the southwest quarter of the town on 
roads running from the State read to the old Rockabema road. 
A large part of this township is still in its wilderness state, but 
much of it would cut up into good farms and this land will one 
day be wanted for settlement. Hastings Brook, a tributary of 
the West Branch of the Mattawamkeag, runs through a portion 
of the northwest quarter of the tov/n and Dudley Brook, an af- 
fluent of the East Branch, crosses the northeast corner. 

Merrill Plantation had in 1890, a population of 244, and a 
valuation of $64,396. 



OAKFIELD 



Oakfield is the Switzerland of Aroostook. It is the most 
mountainous and broken of all the towns in the county now 
opened for settlement. It reminds one of the hill towns of West 
Oxford and for ruggedness of surface may be compared with 
the old town of Albany with this difference, that the muontains 
of Oakfield are yet covered with a heavy growth of birch and 
maple. The southern and southeastern portions of the town are 
extremely stony, immense granite boulders lying thick upon the 
surface and greatly interfering with agricultural operations. In 
the northern and northwestern portions of the town the granite 
disappears and the surface is somewhat less broken and better 
adapted to farming. 

Oakfield was formerly known as Township No. 5, Range 
3, and is bounded on the north by the town of Smyrna^ on the 
east by Linneus and New Limerick, on the south by the unset- 
tled Township No. 4, Range 3 and on the west by Dyer Brook 
Plantation. 

The east branch of the Mattawamkeag flows in a due south 
course entirely across the extreme western portion of the town. 



282 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

leaving but a narrow strip of land between the river and the west 
line of the town. In the northern part of the town are Spaulding 
Lake and Long Lake, whose waters are discharged westward into 
the East Branch, while still farther north and touching the Smyr- 
na line is Timony Lake, a pretty little sheet of water whose outlet 
is at its northern point, from which a brook flows northv/ard into 
Cochrane Lake and thence into the Meduxnekeag. In the north- 
western portion of the town is Meduxnekeag Lake, better known 
as Drew's Lake, portions of which are in the towns of Linneus 
and New Limerick. The highest part of the town is near the 
centre and on this high land many brooks find their source, some 
flowing into the East Branch and its lakes, and thus finding their 
way into the Penobscot, while others run into the Meduxnekeag 
and its feeders and finally mingle their waters with those of the 
beautiful St. John. On this height are springs whose waters tric- 
kle out in both directions and thus the same springs help to feed 
both the Penobscot and the St. John, and the crystal rills parting 
from the same little pool on this wood crowned eminence mingle 
with the ocean many miles apart. In the southeastern portion of 
the town are Skitacook Lake and Mud Lake. The outlet of 
these lakes is the Skitacook Stream, which flows southward 
through Township No. 4, Range 3 and empties into the east 
branch of the Mattawamkeag. 

In the division of the wild lands of Maine at the time of its 
admission as a separate State, Township No. 5, Range 3, now 
Oakfield, remained in the possession of the State of Massachu- 
setts as the towns were divided alternately between Ma'ne and 
the mother State. About 1830 two large lots, conta'n'ng nearly 
two hundred acres each were run out by the Massachusetts land 
agent in the northern part of No. 5, adjoining the Smyrna line. 
These lots are numbered tv/elve and thirteen upon the present 
plan of the tov/n. 

In 1831, Mr. Daniel Spaulding came from Kennebec County 
and took the lot now numbered twelve and at the same time Mr. 
Alexander Caldwell, who had recently emigrated to this country 
from Ireland took the adjoining lot. These two men were the 
pioneers of the town of Oakfield. The tract of land comprising 
these two lots was comparatively level, free from stones and 
fine productive soil. Mr. Spaulding cleared a farm upon which 
he lived until 1859, when he moved to Minnesota, where he died. 
He was for many years a prominent man in this section and was 
a man of much business ability. He was largely engaged in 
lumbering and also had teams upon the road to transport goods 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 283 

from Bangor to Aroostook. At that time all the goods and sup- 
plies for this portion of Aroostook County were purchased in 
Bangor and hauled by teams over the old Military road. Aroos- 
took had in those years a close business connection with Bangor 
and a large trade was established which was continued for many 
years. 

After Mr. Spaulding left the farm it passed through a num- 
ber of hands and is now the property of Mr. Avon D. Weeks. 

On the lot adjoining Mr. Spaulding's is a portion of the lit- 
tle lake now known as Timony Lake. In 1831 Mr. Alex Caldwell 
commenced his clearing on the north side of the lake near the 
Smyrna line. Here he cleared up a considerable tract and built 
a set of build'ngs, which were afterwards burned. Mr. Cald- 
well died in 1865 and his daughter, Mrs. James Timony, came 
into possession of the property. Mr. Timony enlarged and im- 
proved the farm and rebuilt the buildings. He died in 1885. 
His widow still resides with her son, Mr. John Timony, who car- 
ries on the farm. 

The next settler upon the town was Mr. David W. Clifford, 
who about the year 1848 made a clearing in the southwest part 
of the town on the lot now occupied by Mr. John Byron. These 
three were the only clearings made upon the town until it was 
opened for settlement in 1858. 

In common with all the unsettled lands of the State this 
town became the property of the State of Ma'ne and in 1858 
was surveyed and lotted for settlement by Parker P. Burleigh 
and J. E. S. Cony. The State then offered the lots to actual 
settlers for 50 cents per acre, to be paid in road labor. Thus the 
settlers could pay for their lots by making roads for their own 
accommodation. 

Immigration to the new town at once commenced and set- 
tlers came and took lots in different portions of the town. On 
all the hillsides the sound of the pioneer's axe was heard as the 
lofty forest trees were felled and openings made in the wilder- 
ness for future homes. 

The first deed from the State of Maine was given to Mr. 
Samuel Gerrish, who came from Linneus in 1858 and took a lot 
some distance south of the center of the town. Mr. Gerrish 
cleared up a farm and built a good set of buildings and lived 
upon the farm until some four years ago, when he went to spend 
the last years of his life with his son, Mr. John Gerrish, who has 
a fine farm in the plantation of Dyer Brook. The old gentleman 
is now 90 years old, but is quite active for a man of that ex- 



284 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

treme age. His children and grandchildren are still living in 
this and adjoining towns. 

Mr. John Bell, one of the earliest of the pioneers of Oak- 
field after the survey, came from Stoneham in Oxford County, 
to Aroostook to seek a new home. Hearing of the State land 
in Number 5, he went there, and as the hills looked natural to 
him, and reminded hirn of his home in Oxford, he concluded to 
settle in the new town. He first took a lot in the southwest por- 
tion of the tov/n a short distance east of the East Branch. The 
lot extended from Downing Brook on the south to Moose Brook 
on the north, and was a very good lot, being beyond the granite 
belt. Mr. Cushman Walker of Hodgdon, had made a twelve 
acre chopping on the lot and Mr. Bell purchased Mr. Walker's 
possession. He lived in Linneus while he was making his first 
clearing and building his log house, and in 1861 moved his fam- 
ily to their forest home. Mr. Bell cleared upwards of twenty 
acres on this lot and built a good barn. He lived upon this farm 
six years and then sold it to Mr. John H. Bartlett, who now lives 
upon it. Mr. Bell then took the lot next west of his former 
home, and here he made a large clearing. He afterwards sold a 
part of this farm to his son, Mr. John F.- Bell, reserving for him- 
self fifty acres, with something over ten acres cleared. The land 
is not much broken, lying lower than the adjoining farm, is not 
very stony and produces well. Mr. Bell has a neat house and 
good barn and a thrifty orchard of something over 100 bearing 
trees. He is now 74 years old and somewhat feeble and has 
given up the management of the farm to his son-in-law, Mr. 
Charles Bell, who lives with him. The old gentleman is justly 
proud of the fact that he sent three boys to the army, aged 14, 
16 and 18 years respectively at the time of their enlistment, but 
all large of their age and good stalwart young men. All three 
went into the 3rd Maine Cavalry and served until the close of 
the war and all three came home uninjured. 

In 1859 Mr. John Lougee came from Linneus and took a lot 
a short distance southv/est from the centre of the town. There 
was then no road to the lot and after making a small clearing, 
Mr. Lougee moved his family to the new home in 1861. The 
farm is on the side of a high hill sloping toward the south and 
on all sides except the west is surrounded by lofty wooded hills. 
A short distance to the northeast of Mr. Lougee's is the highest 
land in the town and the "divide" between the waters of the 
Penobscot and those flowing into the St. John. Looking west- 
ward from the buildings the view extends through a valley or 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 285 

pass, to the farms in Dyer Brook Plantation and also away to 
the white cottages and cultivated fields of Crystal. From the 
higher ground the village of Patten can be plainly seen. Mt. 
Chase is in plain view directly to the west, while a little farther 
to the south old Katahdin rears his cloud-capped summit above 
all surrounding eminences. A road now winds through this val- 
ley and near the road Mr. Lougee has built a fine large house. 
He has two large barns and other convenient outbuildings near 
the house and another large barn in a field some distance away. 
Mr. Lougee has had much experience in the lumber woods and 
is v/ell acquainted with all portions of western Aroostook. He 
is the present treasurer of the town. His son, Mr. Charles S. 
Lougee, lives with him and is a partner in the business. On the 
hills in the rear of Mr. Lougee's buildings is a deposit of iron, 
and surveyors are here obliged to discard the use of the com- 
pass on account of the deflection of the needle, caused by the 
iron deposit. 

In 1859 Mr. Joseph T. Robbins, who holds the second deed 
given in the town by the State of Maine, came from Exeter and 
took a lot a short distance southeast of the center of the town. 
This farm is now on what is called the North road, one mile 
and a half from Morton's Corner. Mr. Robbins commenced 
clearing land and built a timber house upon his lot but did not 
move his family to the new town until August, 1862. At that 
time the road from Linneus Corner was made only as far as the 
Byron place in the west part of Linneus and from there Mr. Rob- 
bins moved his family, consisting of his wife and two children, 
through the woods to their new home on a sled drav/n by oxen. 
Mr. Robbins has a farm of 185 acres with something over fifty 
acres cleared. A large portion of the farm is quite free from 
stones and produces well. He has a good set of buildings and 
is comfortably situated. Mr. Robbins has been a member of 
the board of assessors and has always been a prominent man 
in the town. 

Mr. J. A. Tyler came from Augusta in 1861 and took the lot 
next west of Mr. Robbins. He cleared some forty acres of land 
and built a house and barn. Mr. Tyler lived upon this farm until 
four years ago, when he moved to California. 

Mr. Lewis P. Young came from Linneus in 1861 and took 
the lot next west of Mr. John Lougee's. He made a small clear- 
ing on the lot and built a house and barn and then went into the 
army in the 16th Maine Regiment and died in the service. Mrs. 
Woodworth now lives on this farm. 



286 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Benjamin Burleigh, a brother of Col. Moses Burleigh of 
Linneus, moved from Houlton in 1860 and took a lot in the south 
part of the town running back to Skitacook Lake. Mr. Burle'gh 
commenced a farm here, but lived only about five years after 
he came to the town. 

One of the earliest settlers of the town was Mr. Wil'iam C. 
Thompson, who came from the town of Knox, in Waldo County, 
in 1859 and took a lot in the west part of the tov/n south of the 
centre line. This lot runs back to the East Branch. Mr. Thomp- 
son made a small clearing in 1859 and built a frame hou^e and 
in April, 1860, moved his family to the town and has I'ved uoon 
this farm ever since. He has 150 acres of land with 60 acres 
cleared. The land slopes gradually westward to the East Bra^'.ch 
and along the river is a fine intervale. 

Mr. Daniel Allen came from Montville with Mr. Thompson 
and took the lot adjoining his on the north. He cleared up a 
farm and built a set of buildings, and d'ed here some twenty 
years ago. His son, S. J. Allen, now lives on the farm. 

Mr. John Brown came to the town in 1860 and took a lot 
in the south part of the town (No. 134^. He cleared a^out 
twenty acres and lived upon it four years and then removed to 
Merrill Plantation. 

Enoch Bamford came to Oakfield in 1862 and first took a 
lot in the west part of the town, where he made a small clearing 
and then sold to Mr. David Byron. He then took the lot next 
north of Mr. Joseph T. Robb'ns, where he remained two years. 
This lot is now occupied by Mr. William T. Higg'ns. Mr. Bam- 
ford was for a number of years afterward engaged in trade at 
Linneus Corner and something over a year ago returned to Oak- 
field and took the L. C. Sprao^ue farm on the south road a short 
distance east of Morton's Corner. Here Mr. Bamford has a 
store with a stock of general merchandise and is the postmaster 
of Oakfield. 

Mr. Chas. T. Bussell came from Farmington in 1862 and 
took a lot near the centre of the town. He moved h's family to 
the town the next year. Mr. Bussell cleared up a good farm and 
built a good set of build'ngs. He was for years a prominent 
man in the town and was well known in th's portion of the coun- 
ty. He removed to Minnesota some six years ago. This farm 
is now owned by Mr. Elijah N. Nelson, who came from New 
Brunswick and purchased it some five years ago. He has about 
sixty acres of cleared land, a good house and a barn 40x60 ft. 
The farm was neglected after Mr. Bussell left, but as Mr. Nel- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 287 

son is a sturdy, energetic man, he will no doubt make a good 
farm of it. 

Edward Adams came from Linneus in 1862 and made a 
clearing on the lot opposite the John Brown lot in the south 
part 01 the town. He lived on this lot a number of years and 
then moved to Colorado. Mr. James Flem.ng came the same 
year and took the lot adjoining Mr. Adams on the west. Here 
he made a large clearir.g, built a good house and barn and alter 
liv.'ng upon the farm a number of years removed to Colorado. 
Edward SulLvan came the same year and took the lot adjoining 
Mr. Adams on the east. He made a small clearing, built a house 
i nd barn and alter a few years moved to Letter B. Plantation. 
This lot is nov/ owned by Mr. F. W. Stlmpson of Houlton. 

Isaac Chambers came from Baring in Washington County, 
in 1861, and took a lot in the southwest part of the town near 
Mr. John Bell's. He cleared up a farm and built comfortable 
buildir.gs and still lives upon the farm. 

Mr. William Gerrish, a son of Samuel Gerrish, came to Oak- 
field with his father and went to work with him to clear up a 
farm and make a home. They had just made a fair commence- 
ment when the war broke out and WJliam went into the army 
in the 20th Ma'ne Regiment. At the battle of Cold Harbor he 
lost a leg, and returning to Oakfield, bought a farm in the south 
part of the town. He farmed and traded until the summer of 
1888. In June of this year Mr. Gerrish started to attend the Re- 
publican State Convention at Portland as a delegate from his 
town. He became exhausted from the heat while riding in the 
horse cars from the train to the hotel, and fell in a fainting fit. 
He was removed to the Falmouth Hotel, where he died that 
night. An appeal was made in his behalf to the convention and 
the generous sum of five hundred dollars was contributed by the 
delegates. This removed the mortgage from his little home and 
placed h's widow and family in comfortable circumstances. The 
widow still resides upon the farm. 

Theodore Gerrish, another son of Samuel Gerrish, also went 
into the army and at the close of the war returned to Oakfield 
and took the lot next north of the homestead. Here he made a 
clearing and built a house and lived upon the lot some five or 
s'x years, when he commenced to study for the ministry. He 
terwards became a clergyman in the Methodist Church and is 
well known as a writer of war reminiscences. Of late years he 
has been somewhat largely engaged in Western land speculation, 
having made large investments for himself and others at Sioux 



288 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

Falls and other places. 

Mr. Albert G. Bussell came with his brother, Chas. T. Bus- 
sell, and took the next lot to his, where he cleared up a small 
farm and built a house and afterwards removed with his bro- 
ther to the west. This farm is now occupied by Mr. Leontine 
Martin. 

Mr. Albion Batchelder came from New Portland in 1861 
and took the lot next west of Mr. Chas. T. Bussell's. Mr. 
Batchelder is still living upon this farm and has forty acres 
cleared and has good comfortable buildings. 

Wesley Daggett came from Weston in 1863 and first settled 
on a lot in the southeast part of the town, north of the road. He 
afterwards moved to a lot on the south of the road, where he 
made a clearing and lived until his death five years ago. His 
son, Luther A. Daggett, then took the farm and now lives upon 
it. He has twenty-five acres of cleared land. 

Mr. George Foster came from Waterville in 1863 and took 
a lot in the west part of the town and made a clearing and built 
a log house and barn. He lived here some eighteen years and 
then moved to Skowhegan. This farm is now unoccupied. 

About the same time Mr. Bachelor Henry came from W^aldo 
County and took a lot in the northwest part of the town running 
back to Long Lake. Here he made a farm and built a good set 
of buildings and lived upon the farm until his death something 
over two years ago. His brother, John J. Hussey, came at the 
same time and took the lot adjoining on the west. He cleared 
up a farm and built a house and barn and afterwards moved to 
Sherman. 

Albert A. Burleigh moved to Oakfield in 1865 on his return 
from his term of service in the army. Mr. Burleigh served in 
the 1st District of Columbia Cavalry and also in 1st Maine Cav- 
alry. At the battle of Staunton River Bridge he received a but- 
let wound through the left thigh and also had his left shoulder 
shattered by a fragment of a shell. A few days later he was 
taken prisoner while being conveyed to the hospital in an am- 
bulance. He was taken to Petersburg and afterwards to Rich- 
mond and was in prison fifty-five days in the summer of 1864. 
He was then exchanged and was discharged from the service 
in April, 1865. He returned to the home of his father, Hon. 
Parker P. Burleigh, of Linneus, and in December, 1865, moved 
to a State lot in Oakfield. His lot was in the southwest part of 
the town, on the east side of the East Branch. He made a 
clearing of thirty acres on this lot and built a good house, and 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 289 

afterwards purchased half of the lot adjoining. In 1870 Mr. 
Burleigh was chosen a member of the board of county commis- 
sioners and has since served upon the board fourteen years, 
having had eleven years of continuous service. In April, 1873, 
he moved to Linneus and in the following December removed 
to Houlton, where he has since resided. Mr. Burleigh learned 
the profession of land surveyor from his father, having worked 
with him from boyhood, and he has since practiced that profes- 
sion in many parts of Aroostook and probably no man in the 
county is more thoroughly acquainted with the topography of 
Aroostook than he. In 1881, Mr. Burleigh was appointed col- 
lector of customs for the district of Aroostook, which office he 
held for four years. He was succeeded during the Cleveland 
administration by Hon, John P. Donworth and in 1889 was re- 
appointed by President Harrison and is the present incumbent. 
Mr. Burleigh was actively engaged in working up the present en- 
terprise for the construction of a direct railroad to Aroostook 
County, and in the formation of the Bangor & Aroostook R. R. 
Company, and is the president of that company. He 'm' now 
actively engaged in pushing that important enterprise and the 
people of the county have all confidence in his integrity and 
business ability. 

In 1865, Mr. James W. Anderson moved to Oakfield and set- 
tled on a lot in the northern part of the town, east of Spaulding 
Lake. Mr. Anderson was a soldier in the old 24th Maine Regi- 
ment and afterwards served in the 20th Maine. 

The township remained unorganized until 1866. The war- 
rant for the organization as a plantation was issued to Jacob 
Martin, Jr., on March 7, 1866, by County Commissioners D. A. 
Sewall, N. S. Lufkins and T. C. S. Berry. The first meeting 
was held April 17, 1866, at the house of Charles T. Russell. 
James Timony was chosen moderator; William Gerrish, clerk; 
Joseph F. Robbins, James Timony and John Bell, assessors, and 
Thomas Shields, treasurer. At the request of Mr. James Timony, 
then the oldest living resident of the town, it was voted that the 
plantation be called Oakfield. On June 7th a second meeting 
was held, at which the school districts were arranged and some 
action taken in regard to roads. In September 1866, Oakfield 
cast 57 votes. 

Mr. Benj. F. Higgins moved from Lisbon to Oakfield in 
October, 1867, and settled on a lot a short distance northeast of 
the center of the town. When Mr. Burleigh lotted the town he 
selected this lot for himself or his boys, but afterwards ex- 



290 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

changed and took the lot on the East Branch, where Albert A. 
Burleigh afterwards lived. Mr. Thos. C. Segar then took the lot 
and felled five acres of trees upon it, and in 1861 went into the 
army and died in the service. Mr. Higgins served through the 
war and in 1867 came to Oakfield and married the widow of Mr. 
Segar and settled upon the new lot. Mr. Higgins was deputy 
land agent for some time and has been a prominent man in his 
town. He, with others, built a mill a number of years ago on 
the stream which flows across his lot, but not proving profitable, 
it has been abandoned. Mr. Higgins is now advanced in years 
and has given up the management of the farm to his son, Phil 
Sheridan Higgins, who lives with him. Another son, U. S. 
Grant Higgins, is settled upon a farm nearby. 

Mr. J. D. B. Clark came from Smyrna in 1866 and took a 
lot in the northwest part of the town, running back to Long 
Lake. He has 133 acres of good land, quite free from stones, 
with 50 acres cleared. He has a handsome two-story house and 
good barn and outbuildings. Mr. Clark is a blacksmith by trade 
and works at Smyrna Mills a part of the time. 

Mr. Avon D. Weeks came to Oakfield in 1872 and bought 
the old Spaulding place in the north part of the town, next to 
the Smyrna line. Mr. Weeks is the son of Abner Weeks, former- 
ly one of the business men of Houlton. Mr. Weeks has a mill 
on the thoroughfare between Spaulding Lake and Long Lake. 
Mr. Joseph Crandall built the original mill some twenty years 
ago. It then had but an up and down saw. Mr. Weeks rebuilt 
and enlarged the mill in 1885 and it now contains a rotary, shin- 
gle machine, lath machine and planer. The mill is run by water. 
Mr. Charles L. Weeks, the youngest son of Abner Weeks, has 
a farm adjo'ning his brother's and has built a very handsome 
residence. Last winter the Weeks Bros, built a shingle mill on 
Township No. 7, Range 3, which lies directly north of Smyrna. 
Mr. Charles L. Weeks is in charge of the business at this mill. 

Mr. W. H. Gerrir.h has recently built a steam grist mill near 
the road which crosses the thoroughfare between the lakes. He 
has two run of stones and grinds feed and also bolts buckwheat 
flour. He also has a store near the mill and is doing a good 
business. Mr. Robert McElman has a blacksmith shop near the 
m'll. 

Mr. Harry F'sher has a handsome residence on his farm on 
the south side of Spaulding Lake. He is largely engaged in lum- 
bering. 

Some two miles from the east line of the town a road turns 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 291 

to the north at what is called Morton's Corner and runs north- 
ward across the town. Mr. George F. Morton came from SJver 
Ridge eight years ago and bought the Henry C. Taylor farm at 
what was then called Taylor Corner. Mr. Morton has a very 
good farm here and also keeps public house. Mr. Albert Smart 
has a farm a short distance west of Mr. Morton's and also has 
a store. Mr. Eli W. Tibbetts, Mr. Charles Libby and Mr. John 
R. Gerrish also have farms on this road. Mr. George Burpee 
has a farm two miles north of Morton's Corner, and beyond him 
are Wm. T. Higgins and his son, Andrew J. Higgins. Mr. Frank- 
lin S. Higgins has a small tarm and a neat residence a short 
d'stance farther north. Mr. Higgins is a carpenter by trade and 
has been clerk of the plantation since 1873. 

Mr. John M. Brown and Mr. Geo. W. Brown have farms 
still further north. Mr. Willard Brannan and Mr. Allen Walton 
have good farms in the western part of the town. 

Oakfield is well supplied with roads and has good schools. 
The population in 1880 was 720. 

Though possessed of a rough and rugged surface in many 
portions of the town, yet there is much good farming land in the 
town, and the time may yet come when all the hills, now covered 
with a lofty forest growth, will be converted into fertile farms, 
and occupied by a prosperous farming community. 



WESTFIELD 



Southward from Presque Isle the road leads through a beau- 
tiful farming country, and evidences of thrift may be seen on 
every hand, while the natural scenery is most pleasing. A short 
distance firm the village we come to the handsome buildings 
of St. John's School, where some ninety of the boys and girls 
of Presque Isle, besides others from without the town, receive 
efficient instruction. The buildings are placed upon a healthy 
em'nence and are of much architectural beauty without, while 
within they are roomy, convenient aid comfortable. A handsome 
dome surmounts the principal building, from which the Stars 
and Stripes of the Union float proudly in the breeze. Next be- 
yond is the large farm of Rev. G. M.. Park, with its numerous 
and commodious farm buildings and its broad and fertile fields 
stretching away to the distant woods. A short distance below is 
the beautiful cemetery, with its well kept grounds and newly 
fin'shed receiving tomb. We pass many fine farms with fields 
of rich green grass and grain, and with many acres of potatoes. 



292 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

somewhat backward this season, but giving promise of a bounti- 
ful harvest. A few miles below the village we come to Akeley 
Brook, upon which is situated one of the finest starch factories 
in Aroostook County, with two large dry houses and a conven- 
ient boarding house, the buildings all neatly finished and painted. 
This factory is the property of Hon, T. H. Phair, and many 
bushels of potatoes are here ground up and made into starch 
each year. Crossing the brook and ascending the hill beyond, 
■we see on the right the lofty and irregular height of Quaggy 
Joe and its thickly wooded sides, while at its foot nestles the 
pretty little suburban village of Spragueville. Most of this vil- 
lage is hidden from view as we ride along the stage road, but 
the handsome new Methodist Church, but recently dedicated, 
is in plain sight upon the higher ground and shows to good ad- 
vantage with the dark sides of the mountain for a background. 

Something over three miles from Presque Isle village, at the 
mouth of the road leading to Spragueville, we come to the large 
and handsome Grange Hall which the enterprising Patrons of 
South Presque Isle and Westfield erected a number of years ago. 
The building has two stories, the lower one being used for the 
Grange meetings and a large and convenient dining hall is fin- 
ished off above. 

For six miles southward from the village the road, leads 
through the town of Presque Isle and when nearing the south 
line of the town we come to Clark Brook, where is situated the 
starch factory belonging to Hon. G. W. Collins of Bridgewater. 
Cross'ng Clark Brook we are soon out of Presque Isle and come 
into the thriving town, or rather plantation, of Westfield, as this 
township has not yet been incorporated. 

Westfield is composed of two half townships which years 
ago were granted by the State of Massachusetts in aid of the es- 
tablishment of institutions of learning in that State. The north 
half of the town was by the liberality of the mother State grant- 
ed to Deerfield Academy and the south half to Westfield Acad- 
emy. This township lies in the second range and is bounded on 
the north by Presque Isle, on the east by Mars Hill, on the south 
by the unsettled half township of "E" Range 2, and on the west 
by the south part of Chapman and by township No. 10, Range 3. 
The stage road from Presque Isle to Houlton enters the town 
about midway of the north line and running in a southeasterly 
direction across the northeast quarter, leaves the town a mile 
below the middle point of its east line. 

The half townships were long ago sold by the trustees of 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 293 

the institutions to whom they were granted to proprietors and 
after passing through several hands, passed into the possession 
of the present owners, the unsettled land in the north half or 
what was formerly Deerfield Academy grant, being now owned 
by Hon. Parker P. Burleigh the father of our honored Governor, 
and the south half which is nearly all unsettled, being the pro- 
perty, of Messrs. Powers, Madigan and Wellington. The settled 
portion of the town is nearly all in the northeast quarter, where 
are some very fine farms, although the entire township is com- 
posed of grand farming land. The timber, which is abundant 
upon this town was what made it particularly valuable in the 
olden time, and years before any of these fine farms were cleared 
lumber roads were cut through different portions of the town 
and in the winter time crews of hardy lumbermen camped upon 
the town and were at that time its only inhabitants. 

The first settler who- made a clearing upon the town for 
farming purposes was James Thorncraft, who came in 1839 and 
settled on what is now the Trueworthy farm, about three miles 
•south of the Presque Isle line and nine miles south of Presque 
Isle village on the Houlton road. When Thorncraft made his 
first chopping and built his little log house, in the forest the 
whole country for miles on every side was an unbroken wilder- 
ness. There was no road anywhere near him, and his nearest 
neighbors on the. north were the pioneer settlers of Presque Isle, 
• while on the south there w^s no settler nearer than Bridgewater, 
and at that time very few- had settled upon that town. Upon the 
whole of the town of Mars Hill no settler had at that time en- 
tered, while the now flourishing town of Easton was still in its 
original wilderness state. For two years Thorncraft and his 
wife lived here alone in this grand forest, adding each year to 
the little clearing and making the beginning of what is now a 
beautiful farm. The spot chosen for his home , was on a fine 
swell of hard wood land, while at a short distance from his 
house ran a clear, pebbly brook. In 1841, he was joined by 
John H. Bridges, who remained seven years and then removed 
to the adjoining township of Mars Hill to become its earliest 
pioneer settler. 

The farm thus early commenced by Thorncraft has long 
been the property of Mr. John N. Trueworthy, who is well 
known to all who have ever been in the habit of travelling upon 
that road. Mr. Trueworthy was originally from Unity, Waldo 
County, and came to Aroostook in 1843, settling upon what is 
now the farm of Deacon Charles Tarbell, on the Centre Line 



294 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

road in Presque Isle. In 1861 he purchased the Thorncraft 
farm, which had already passed through a number of hands, 
and has resided upon it ever since. Upon removing to this farm 
Mr. Trueworthy at once opened his house as a hotel and as at 
that time all the goods for the upper country were hauled by 
teams from Houlton, his house was a convenient stopping place 
and had a large custom. Though the house was not large, yet 
it was always noted for its neatness and for the excellence of 
the abundant cheer which the good landlady placed upon the 
table. Mr. Trueworthy was appointed postmaster in 1862, and 
though a good old Democrat, has held the office through every 
administration until the present time and will probably continue 
to hold it during his life. The old gentleman is now upwards 
of 70 years old and has in a great measure retired from active 
life. Since the extension of the railroad to Presque Isle the 
business of the hotel has been considerably diminished, though 
the best of entertainment can still be had there. 

In 1846 Mr. John Young moved from Bridgewater and com- 
menced a clearing on what is now called Young's Brook, near 
where the Houlton road crosses the line of Westfield and en- 
ters Mars Hill. He was the third settler upon the town. Thorn- 
craft and Bridges at the time living some four miles north of 
him. Two years later these two last named settlers removed 
to Mars Hill leaving Mr. Young the only settler upon the town. 
His widow, an old lady nearly 90 years old, still lives on the 
old place and from her we learned many incidents in connec- 
tion with the early settlement of the town. His sons are also 
among the citizens of Westfield today. For a number of years 
no new settlers came to the town. Mr. Young extended his 
clearing and found a market for his surplus crops principally at 
the lumber camps in the vicinity. 

The invasion of the "Press gang" in 1858 called attention 
to the fertile lands of Aroostook and soon after that time emi- 
grants began to rush into the new county. A few stopped in 
Westfield and had this been a State town probably every lot in 
town would long ere this have been settled. It being, however, 
the property of proprietors who held the land at two dollars per 
acre and wished to reserve a large portion of the town for lum- 
bering purposes, most of the newcomers pressed on to the cheap- 
er lands upon the State towns beyond, where lots could be had 
for fifty cents per acre, to be paid in road labor. 

About that time, or a short time previous thereto, Mr. Gran- 
ville Coburn of Lincoln took up the lot next above Mr. True- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 295 

worthy's, upon a beautiful ridge of maple land where he made 
a very fine farm. His widow and daughters are now living in 
Presque Isle and the farm at present has no tenant residing upon 
it. Mr. Pickering settled next above Coburn on what is now the 
Jewell farm, and next above, on the farm now occupied by Mr. 
Charles W. Allen, James Lucy commenced a clearing. 

As late as 1858 the settlers named were all that were upon 
the town. In the fall of 1858 Mr. A. C. Dodge came from Lib- 
erty, in Waldo County, and settled a short distance above Mr. 
Young's, on the road to Presque Isle. Mr. Dodge is still one 
of the prominent citizens of the town and has for a number of 
years been agent appointed by the County Commissioners for 
the expenditure of the road tax, a large proportion of which is 
paid by the non-resident proprietors. 

In 1859 Cyrus Chase, Levi W. Reed and Asa Reed of Dan- 
ville, and Sewall Woodbury of New Gloucester, settled on the 
road on adjoining lots south of the Trueworthy place. Asa 
Reed was killed in the army, and Levi W. Reed remained and 
made a fine farm upon which he worked during the summer 
time, being engaged in school teaching during the winter months, 
until about a year ago, when he removed with his family to 
New Gloucester, where he now has charge of the butter factory. 
Mr. Reed and his wife were prominent members of the Order 
of Patrons of Husbandry of Northern Aroostook and are much 
missed by their old neighbors and friends. Mr. Cyrus Chase 
is still a resident of Westfield, and has made from the forest 
one of the finest farms in the town. He is one of the officers of 
the North Aroostook Agricultural Society in whose prosperity 
he is much interested. He was a good soldier in the 19th Maine 
Regiment and is one of the pregressive farmers of Northern 
Aroostook. 

In 1860 Mr. Joel Howard, who the previous year had com- 
menced a clearing upon Mars Hill Township, came to Westfield 
and purchased two lots opposite the Trueworthy place. Here 
Mr. Howard cleared up a large and productive farm, upon which 
he built a fine stand of farm buildings and where he continued 
to reside until some five years ago or thereabouts he moved to 
the village of Presque Isle. During his residence in Westfield, 
Mr. Howard was one of its most prominent citizens and at one 
time represented his district in the Maine Legislature. 

In 1861 Mr. L. A. Blaisdell came from Somerset County 
and purchased a lot in the north part of the town, his residence 
being on the main road about a mile south of the Presque Isle 



296 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

line. Here Mr. Blaisdell. cleared up a good farm and built a 
comfortable set of buildings where he still continues to reside. 
For years Mr. Blaisdell has been extensively engaged in bee 
culture and has justly been named the Bee King of Aroostook 
County. 

All the farms of which we have so far spoken are located 
. upon the main stage route from Houlton.to Presque Isle. A mile 
west of this road, and parallel to it, a road commences near the 
north line of the town and runs for about two miles through a 
splendid farming section, though the farms upon this road are 
much newer than those located upon the main thoroughfare. 

Upon this road Mr. Robert M. Fox, from Dixmont, made 
the first clearing in 1870. Mr. Fox has now forty acres cleared 
and has a comfortable set of buildings. 

The plantation, including the two half townships of Deer- 
field and Westfield Academy grants, was organized in 1861 and 
has not been incorporated as a town, the , citizens preferring to 
retain their plantation organization. The first schoolhouse was 
built in 1S63 and in this house Mrs. L. W. Reed taught the first 
school in town. 

In the fall of 1859, Peavy Bros, of Bangor built on Young's 
Brook, near the Mars Hill line, . a factory for the manufacture 
of peavy stocks from the abundant supply of maple timber in 
this vicinity. The building contains a fine 25 horse power en- 
gine, with 50 horse power boiler, sav/s, lathes and all the ma- 
chinery necessary for the finishing up of the stocks. The maple 
is delivered at the factory in logs of suitable length for the 
stocks which are from four to six feet long. The company pays 
$2 per thousand feet stumpage for the timber and hire it cut 
and hauled to the factory. Last winter the factory turned out 
35,000 stocks finished ready for ironing. Mr. Cyrus Chase 
hauled these 35,000 stocks to Presque Isle during the winter. 
They were shipped to Bansror to be ironed and doubtless many 
a stout lever from good Westfield maple will be used in lifting 
and rolling the big pines upon the rivers of the far West. 

There is no starch factory in town, the nearest one being 
upon Clark Brook in Presque Isle, a short distance north of the 
Westfield line. The larger portion of the potatoes ground at this 
factory are supplied by Westfield farmers who are largely en- 
gaged in this profitable branch of Aroostook agriculture. Large 
quantities of potatoes are also hauled from this town to the sta- 
tion at Presque Isle and sold for shipping purposes. 

The route of the survey for the line of the Bangor & Aroos- 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 297 

took Railroad, runs but a short- distance from- this town, and 
when completed and the station established at Mars Hill, will 
be a great help to the farmers of the town. 

Like all the towns in this section, Westfield is finely wa- 
tered in every portion of the town. The Presque Isle of the St. 
John enters the town about a mile from its northeast corner and 
flows for a distance of nearly four miles in this portion of the 
town, when it crosses the line into Mars Hill. Many brooks 
throughout the entire length of the town flow eastward and 
northward and empty into this stream. Clark Brook, a strong 
flowing stream, rises in the southwest quarter of the town and 
flows in a northerly direction, leaving the town through its north 
line and entering Presque Isle. This brook then bends to the 
eastward and flows into the Presque Isle of the St. John. In the 
southwest quarter of the town is also Burnt Land Brook, which 
rises in the adjoining township on the south and flows in a south- 
westerly course across the southwest corner of the town, whence 
it continues on through the adjacent towns and empties into 
the Presque Isle of the Aroostook. This brook receives three 
strong branches from Westfield, by means of which the south- 
west quarter of the town is amply watered. 

After carefully looking; over this town we must pronounce 
it one of the best of the tOAvns in this vicinity for agricultiural 
purposes. The principal portion at present settled is in the 
northeast quarter of the town, the settlements extending only a 
short distance into the northwest and southeast quarters. All 
the remainder of the town, including. the entire southwest quar- 
ter, is still an unbroken wilderness. All along the main road to 
Presque Isle are fine fertile farms with comfortable homes, and 
from this road can be seen immense tracts of fine hard wood 
land upon which no settler has yet entered. Good timber is 
abundant throughout all these lorest tracts and large lumber 
poerations are carried on each year. With the exception of the 
low lands along the streams the timber is mixed throughout the 
hard wood growth and when it is cut off the land will in all 
probability be sold to settlers and this will eventually be one of 
the finest farming towns in Northern A.roostook. The very best 
of wild land suitable for farms can now be bought here for 
$4.00 per acre and probably before many years the whole town 
will be lotted and placed upon the market. 

The continuation of the Quaggy Joe Range extends for 
some distance down through the northwest part of the town, but 
is in few places sufficiently high to interfere with farming oper- 



298 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

ations, and in general the surface of the town is not badly 
broken. 

The fact that the town was owned by proprietors who hive 
heretofore valued it mainly for lumbering purposes, has of 
course retarded the settlement of this fine town. The population 
in 1880 was but 103 and in 1890 was 166. The valuation of the 
town in 1890 was $34,426. 



CASTLE HILL 



The beautiful Aroostook River in its many windings through- 
out its tortuous course toward the St. John flows through many 
fertile towns, and along its banks were made the humble homes 
of the first settlers of the northern part of the county. One of 
the finest, in an agricultural point of view, is the town, or rather 
plantation, of Castle Hill, for it has not yet been incorporated 
as a town. This may be classed among the river towns, although 
the Aroostook flows only for a distance of about three miles 
through its northwest corner. 

Castle Hill, formerly known as Township No. 12, Range 4, 
is bounded on the north by Wade Plantation, east by the town 
of Mapleton, west by Sheridan Plantation and south by the un- 
organized township of No. 11, Range 4. The old State road from 
Presque Isle to Ashland runs across the northern portion of the 
town, and it was in this part that the first settlement was made 

According to the most reliable information that we have 
been able to obtain, the first settler on the line of the State Road 
was Jabez Trask, called by the old settlers Gen. Trask, he hav- 
ing acquired that title in the militia of the western portion of the 
State. Trask came to Castle Hill in 1843 and settled on the 
spot where Smith's hotel now is, something over four miles 
west from the east line of the town. 

About the same time Ephraim Knights, Caleb Spencer and 
one Seavey commenced clearings at the mouth of Beaver Brook 
which enters the Aroostook River in the extreme northwest cor- 
ner of the town. The lot upon which Knights and Spencer made 
their clearing was afterwards granted by the Commissioners ap- 
pointed to locate grants under the treaty of 1842 to Robert Mil- 
liken, whose grant also included Beaver Brook Island, and the 
Seavey lot was at the same time granted to Patrick Powers, 
these grantees having purchased the improvements from the 
original settlers. 

Mr. Trask cleared a large tract of land on both sides of 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 299 

the road and made the commencement of the large farm now 
owned and occupied by Mr. Henry Tilley. He also built a tim- 
ber house and barn and commenced the business of keeping 
hotel, as after the road was opened to Ashland there was a large 
amount of teaming to that section. In 1850 Trask sold the pro- 
perty to Daniel Chandler. Soon after this the house was burned 
and Mr. Chandler built a frame house and continued the busi- 
ness of hotel keeping. 

In May, 1860, Mr. Henry Tilley came to Castle Hill and 
hired the Chandler hotel. Mr. Chandler then moved to a lot 
on the Aroostook River near the mouth of Beaver Brook, where 
he remained some three years, then he moved to Presque Isle. 
He afterward made a very fine farm near the Aroostook River, 
on the Washburn road in the old town of Maysville now includ- 
ed in the town of Presque Isle. Here he built a very handsome 
set of farm buildings and made extensive improvements, and 
lived upon this farm until his death, which occurred last spring. 

Mr. Tilley remained in the Chandler house some three years, 
when he purchased the farm on the opposite side of the road and 
built a hotel stand which he kept open to the public until seven 
years ago. After Mr. Tilley left the Chandler house Mr, Samuel 
Caughey kept the house two years when the property was sold 
to Mr. G. D. Smith, who carried on the farm, but did not keep 
the house open to the public. In 1883 Mr. Tilley went out of 
the hotel business and Mr. Herbert P. Smith reopened the Chan- 
dler house as a hotel. Two years ago the present summer the 
barn was struck by lightning and all the buildings were con- 
sumed by fire. Mr. Smith rebuilt the house and barn the same 
year and is the present occupant of the hotel. The house is very 
pleasantly situated and as it is a convenient stopping place for 
teams and travellers between Presque Isle and Ashland, is doing 
a large business. Mr. Tilley engaged quite extensively in farm- 
ing and has been for many years a prominent man in this sec- 
tion and is well known throughout Aroostook and other portions 
of Maine. Having occasion at one time to do some business at 
the Land Office when Isaac R. Clark was State Land Agent, 
and thinking that Mr. Clark was treating him somewhat loftily, 
Mr. Tilley is said to have exclaimed with his characteristic in- 
dependence and a plentiful supply of blanks, "Look here, Mr. 
Clark, I want you to understand that I'm just as big a man in 

Castle Hill as you are in Bangor !" Mr. Tilley has 

paid much attention to fruit culture and has a very fine orchard. 
He was also at one time largely engaged in bee-keeping and has 



360 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

paid much attention to sheep husbandry. He is now in feeble 
health and has wholly given up business and is living quietly 
at his old home, where he enjoys very much to receive calls from 
the friends he used to meet so often in active life. He has been 
postmaster of Castle Hill for twenty-five years. His son, James 
H. Tilley, has a very fine farm a short distance east of the hotel 
oil the Presque Isle road. Mr. L. K. Tilley, another son, has a 
large farm a short distance west of his father's, on the same 
road. He is this summer building a large barn, which will be 
dedicated on the 7th of August by the meeting of Aroostook 
Pomona Grange, of which Mr. Tilley is an active member. He 
is also supervisor of schools, and has a store opposite the hotel. 

A short distance west of the hotel is the farm and residence 
of Mr. M. K. Hilton, a prominent citizen of the town and one of 
its first assessors. Mr. Hilton has a good farm and a very 
pleasant residence and is this year making extensive repairs on 
his buildings. 

The district known as the Porter settlement, lying along the 
State road, a short distance from the east line of the town, is 
a very fine agricultural section, and contains some good farms 
with comfortable and neatly kept farm buildings. 

After the coming of the pioneers of the town in 1843, there 
seems to have been no immigration of- any amount until about 
1850. In that year James Porter came from Mirimachi, N. B., 
and settled on the Ashland road about half a mile from the Ma- 
pleton line. Robert Porter came soon after and settled on the 
opposite side of the road. James Porter, Jr., settled on the next 
lot west, and in 1851 John L. Porter took up the lot next to the 
Mapleton line, where William Chandler now lives. These set- 
tlers commenced their clearings in the midst of the forest and 
here reared their humble homes and were subjected to all the 
privations incident to a pioneer life in the wilderness. Nov/ the 
forest is all cleared away on both sides of the road and broad, 
smooth fields and handsome farm buildings are seen throughout 
this part of the town. 

About the time the Porters settled in the east part of the 
town, Abram and Nathaniel Jordan took up lots west of the 
hotel on the same road, and John Jordan settled on the lot 
where M. K. Hilton now lives. 

Aaron Dingee settled about the same time on the lot next 
to the west line of the town, where Mr. Joseph Ellis now lives. 

Mr. Wm. Chandler in 1853 bought of John L. Porter the 
lot in the northeast corner of the town next to the Mapleton 



i 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 301 

line, and has there made a very fine farm with a neat and con- 
venient stand of buildings. 

The old State Road runs through a very fine agricultural 
section and the buildings along the road are neat and well kept 
and the farms are well cultivated and produce abundant crops. 
The road is in excellent condition and though somewhat hilly, 
is nevertheless a very pleasant road to ride on in a pleasant sum- 
mer day. As one approaches the western line of the town on 
the way to Ashland, the Aroostook River is seen a short dis- 
tance to the right bending in the form of a huge letter S among 
the lofty trees and flowing through fertile meadows. Near the 
river is the lofty hill from which the town takes its name, a large 
log building having been built upon its summit by the surveyors 
of the olden time, the remains of which building may still be 
seen. A considerable stretch of the imagination invested these 
old ruins with the dignity of a castle and from this the township 
was named Castle Hill. 

In the south part of the town the road from Presque Isle, 
which runs in a due westerly course entirely across the town of 
Mapleton, continues upon the same stra'ght line about half way 
across Castle Hill township. This road runs through as fine a 
tract of farming land as can be found in New England. As one 
looks westward from the fine eminence just east of the village 
of Ball's Mills in Mapleton, a beautiful maple grove is seen on 
a ridge near the Castle Hill line and through this grove the road 
passes, the grand old forest trees growing close down to the 
confines of the highway on either side and making a most grate- 
ful shade on a hot summer day. Emerging from this grove, a 
most beautiful view of field and meadow is opened out on e'.ther 
hand. Broad, smooth and level fields stretch away on each side 
of the road and terminate in beautiful forests of maple. Large 
fields of potatoes, the tops covering the ground, are a most at- 
tractive feature of the landscape. Here upon this beautiful 
ridge are the farms and homes of the three Dudley brothers, 
and no more fertile or attractive spot can be found in Aroostook. 

Thirty-one years ago Micajah Dudley came to Aroostook 
from the town of China. He had heard of the beauty and fer- 
tility of the forest lands of this northern county and regardless 
of the advice of friends who wished him to make a home near 
the older settlements, he pushed on into the wilderness, deter- 
mined to find a tract large enough and in one compact block of 
good land to furnish farms for himself and his four sons. Ar- 
riving upon this beautiful maple ridge he concluded to go no 



302 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

further, and though he was warned that no road would ever 
penetrate those trackless wilds, he had faith in the future of 
Aroostook and made his choice with rare wisdom and fores'ght. 
His sons came with him or followed soon after and together 
they bent themselves to the task of making for themselves 
pleasant homes in this then far away forest region. The father 
lived to see a good smooth turnpike built through the block of 
land he made choice of and to see broad and productive fields 
where the huge maples were growing when he first set foot upon 
the ridge. He has now passed away and three of his sons are 
now living upon the block, the fourth having a fine farm but a 
short distance away. As we come through the grove of maples 
spoken of above, we first come to the home of M.cajah Dudley, 
the youngest of the four sons. A stone's throw beyond is the 
residence of John W. Dudley, For many years these two bro- 
thers carried on their farming operations in company under the 
firm name of M. & J. W. Dudley, but have recently dissolved 
for the sole reason that the tastes of each led him to pursue a 
different line of farming. Directly opposite is the home of 
Allen W. Dudley, the eldest brother, while a short distance be- 
yond is the house of his son, Sanford, who is now in company 
with him, Micajah Dudley has 240 acres of land, nearly 100 
of which is cleared. John W, Dudley has 160 acres with 60 
acres cleared. His specialty is orcharding, in which he has been 
very successful, and he has now one of the finest orchards in 
Aroostook. He has 275 apple trees in full bearing, these having 
been set ten years ago. Nearby are 200 young trees of the Dud- 
ley Winter variety, and 500 Moore's Arctic plum trees set last 
spring. He is the originator of the Dudley Winter, it being a 
seedling from the Duchess. Mr, Dudley is a vice president of 
the Maine Pomological Society and an enthusiast in fruit cul- 
ture. 

Allen W. Dudley has 180 acres of land, with over 75 acres 
cleared. He also has a very productive and well kept orchard 
and raises a good supply of fruit. We doubt if a finer tract of 
farming land can anywhere be found than this mile square block 
which the elder Dudley chose as a home for himseli and his 
sons. 

On a cros" road connecting with the State Road and about a 
mile from this block is the farm of the fourth brother, Mr, Frank 
C. Dudley. He has 160 acres of land very finely located, with 
about 60 acres cleared, the remainder being a beautiful level 
tract of maple growth. He has a very handsome stand of farm 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 305 

buildings and everything around the place is conveniently kept. 

The farm of Mr. John P. Roberts is the first after crossing 
the town line on the road from Ball's Mills. Mr. Roberts came 
to the town in 1858 and took up this lot and made a chopping 
and moved in with his family the next year. He afterwards 
bought the mill at Mapleton which he run for four years and 
sold it to David Dudley. Mr. Roberts was a soldier in the 18th 
Maine Regiment. 

Another of the pioneer settlers of Castle Hill was Deacon 
T. K. Dow, who came to the tov/n in 1859 and tooic a lot opposite 
Mr. Roberts near the town line. Here he has made a fine farm 
and has for years been one of the most prominent and respected 
citizens of the town. Deacon Dow is still living, a hale, hearty 
old gentleman of upwards of three score and ten but still able 
to tire some of the younger men. 

From Deacon Dow's a road runs due north, parallel to the 
town line and about a quarter of a mile west of the line and 
connects with the old State Road near Mr. Wm. Chandler's. 
This road runs through a very fine agricultural section and there 
are many good farms in this section of the town. Some of them 
are still new and will require time and labor to make them 
smooth and free from stumps, but the soil is fertile and in a 
few years there will be many fine fields along this road. 

Mr. John Waddell, one of the early settlers of the town, 
came from Lubec in 1860 and settled on this road and made a 
good farm some half mile distant from the State Road. His 
son, John Waddell, now lives upon the farm and is well and 
favorably known in this vicinity as an earnest local preacher 
of the Universalist denomination. 

Another road starts near Deacon Dow's and runs in a south- 
westerly direction for a little over a mile, when, after crossing 
Sawyer Brook, it turns squarely to the west and runs upon the 
lot lines to the foot of Haystack Mountain. 

There are several very fine farms along this road, among 
them those of Mr. A. H. Parker, Mr. A. F. Hoffses, Wm. H. 
Bird, Jr., and others. 

Near the foot of Haystack Mountain is the farm and home 
of Mr. Edward Tarr, an enthus'ast in bee culture, and one of 
the best authorities upon th's branch in Aroostook. Mr. Tarr 
came from Waldoboro in 1861 and made for h'mself a pleasant 
home under the shadow of old Haystack. He has something 
over 40 acres of land cleared and raises good crops, but de- 
votes himself to the business of bee keeping. He has now 64 



30.4 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

colonies in his home apiary and has charge of many others in 
different sections, which he cares for on shares. Mr. Tarr is 
a pleasant and instructive writer on bee culture and delivered an 
address on this subject before the Farmers' Convention at 
Presque Isle which was much admired. Mr. Tarr has honey on 
exhibition every year at the State Fair and always displays it 
in neat and attractive packages. He uses the simplicity hive 
and has a shop conveniently fitted up with proper machinery for 
the manufacture of hives and of boxes for his honey. He also 
has a very productive orchard from which he always exhibits 
at the County Fair many fine specimens of fruit. 

In company with Mr. Tarr and Deacon Dow we climbed to 
the summit of Haystack, and though the ascent was somewhat 
difficult, we found ourselves well paid by the magnificent out- 
look afforded. Haystack is much like an inverted cup resting 
upon the bottom of an inverted saucer. For a considerable dis- 
tance the ascent is quite gradual and the road lies through a 
thick wood. Emerging from this forest growth we come to the 
almost perpendicular sides of the steep and barren rock which 
forms the cup part of the mountain. From this point to the 
summit the ascent is more difficult. Every vestige of tree or 
shrub or soil even, has been burned away and only the rugged 
rock remains. When one has neared the summit in this almost 
perpendicular climb and happens to look around upon the region 
beneath his feet, the sensation is anything but pleasant, and 
one at all inclined to be nervous is obliged to look steadily at 
the side of the rock and make sure hold with hands and feet. 

Upon arriving at the summit we found an area of less than 
an eighth of an acre of rock approaching anywhere near a level 
and this appeared so small that we felt like sitting down and 
clinging to the rock for fear of falling off into the depths below. 
The view from the top, however, is simply grand and magnifi- 
cent and embraces the entire circle of the horizon with a radius 
of many miles. The near view, looking down towards the east 
and north, is one. of fertile farms, broad cultivated fields inter- 
spersed with grand stretches of verdant forest. On the west 
side a barren waste stretches for miles away from the moun- 
tain's base. This section was formerly a valuable timber tract, 
but was burned over so completely a number of years ago that 
hardly a green tree can be seen on the broad plain for many 
miles in this direction. Beyond the burnt region the view to the 
west and northwest is very beautiful. The high land near and 
beyond Ashland, with here and there a green field dotted in 



HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 305 

among the forest stretches, the little glimpse of Portage Lake 
seen through a depression between the hills and the distant 
mountains on the far horizon all combine to make a picture of 
surpassing beauty. Away to the southwest old Katahdin rises 
far above all other heights and Mt. Chase looms up in nearly 
the same direction. Almost at our feet apparently, but still 
some miles distant in a southerly direction, lies the glassy sur- 
face of Squa Pan Lake which is destined at no very distant day 
to be the summer resort of the citizens of Presque Isle and vicin- 
ity, and without doubt visitors from a distance will be attracted 
to this romantic retreat when the proposed improvement upon 
the road and in other directions shall have been completed. Al- 
ready a fish and game company has been formed at Presque 
Isle and arrangements have been completed for stocking the 
lake with salmon. 

The trail through the woods and across the burnt land can 
be seen from the top df Haystack and the Lake is even now 
accessible by buckboards. 

Looking southeast from Haystack the wooded tops of 
Hedgehog and Quaggy Joe Mountains seem about on a level 
with the eye, while Mars Hill and Bald Mountains are rendered 
less rugged in appearance by the greater distance. 

The villages of Presque Isle and Washburn can be plainly 
seen and indeed a bird's eye view of the whole country, extend- 
ing to every point of the compass can here be obtained and is 
certainly worth climbing for. 

If the ascent is trying to weak nerves, the descent is even 
more so. At times it seems as though a slip of the foot, or a 
loosened rock would send one far out into space, and a novice 
at this business is pretty sure to come down in practically a 
sitting posture, clinging fast with feet and hands and making 
slow but sure progress down the perilous steep. 

Soon, however, we reached the more gradual slope and 
were able to breathe easier and stand erect. The good Deacon 
made the ascent and descent with the ease and agility of a much 
younger man, and did not seem at all wearied by the exertion. 

If you come to Aroostook, by all means climb Haystack and 
you will surely say that the magnificent view amply repaid you 
for the rugged climb. 

There are numerous other roads throughout the town, upon 
all of which are good farms well under way and only requiring 
time and courage to make them smooth, productive and easy of 
cultivation. 



306 HISTORY OF AROOSTOOK 

A careful examination of the whole town convinced us that 
we had never estimated it at its full worth as a farming town. 
With the exception of the burnt district on the southwest part 
of the town, Castle Hill Is well up on the list of good farming 
towns and It contains not a few tracts of as beautiful farming 
land as can be found In the county. 

Many of the farmers In the south part of the town are mem- 
bers of Eureka Grange, whose hall Is located at Ball's Mills. 
The farmers living upon the State Road some years ago organ- 
ized Castle Hill Grange which Is composed of live and active 
members and Is doing a grand work for the farmers of that 
vicinity. 

Castle Hill is provided with good schools and each district 
Is supplied with a good school house. Mr. L. K. Tilley, the 
efficient Supervisor, is much Interested In the welfare of schools 
and looks after them faithfully. 

Castle Hill was organized as a plantation under warrant 
from the County Commissioners April 23rd, 1866. M. K. Hilton, 
A. M. Dudley and Henry Tilley were the first assessors, and 
Jefferson Sawyer, now a merchant at Sprague's Mills, the first 
clerk. The plantation had In 1880 a population of 419, and a 
valuation of $27,636. The valuation in 1890 was $90,758, and 
the population 537. It Is one of the good towns of the Aroos- 
took Valley, and has many wide awake and enterprising citi- 
zens. 




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